Response to "Flow" by Mihalyi Csikszenmihalyi

This talk is very related to my experience with mathematics. Due to the fact that I majored in math at university, oftentimes people assume I really love math. I definitely don't hate math, but my passion for it doesn't come from the actual "content". The speech given by Mr. Mihalyi Csikszenmihalyi makes me realize that my motivation for math comes from the "flow", which is the ecstatic state when I solve challenging math problems. 

There are problems or puzzles to be solved in every aspect of life, but what I like the most about math is that it presents problems in the simplest and purest form. A pen and a piece of paper usually suffices for a math problem. I feel the "flow" of programming after learning about coding knowledge, but I wouldn't be able to concentrate on it when there is no functioning computer. I also feel the follow of painting when I practiced it for years and finally mastered it to some degrees. However, I experienced the ecstasy of doing math as early as when I was in elementary school, and this ecstasy appears almost every time when I do math, regardless of the complexity of mathematical knowledge or the material preparedness. 

As an educator, I want my students to experience this ecstatic state as well. They don't need to aim for becoming a mathematician, but while they are spending time on math (whether voluntarily or not), I hope to prepare them for challenging problems and let them gain sense of achievement from doing math. During my my short practicum, I have seen a lot of "Ah-ha" moments from students and their joy of understanding or solving math. It is the educators' job to bring this feeling to more students.