Introducing Aniket Mahajan
Aniket is an instructor for the West Valley Branch Library's Math Olympiad program. Math Olympiad is a weekly program for 3rd-5th graders that helps kids prepare for the Math Olympiad test. Before the library closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program met each week at the West Valley Branch Library. A few months after the library closed, the program resumed in an online, virtual form.
During each program session, Aniket and his co-volunteer Rohan review sample problems with the children and answer their questions. Aniket shows the children how to solve problems in a clear, step-by-step fashion perfectly tailored to the age and math skills of his audience. Aniket's reliability, dedication, and skills as an instructor make him one of West Valley's best volunteers. His program provides a valuable service to our patrons by helping kids improve their math skills and feel more confident taking the Math Olympiad exam.
A Chat with Aniket
As a child... I used to go the library every Saturday morning. Back then, I loved reading the Magic Tree House books.
My fondest memory... is reading children’s books like Bernstein Bear and Froggy with my sister and mom late into the night in kindergarten.
I am most proud of... the change that I can make in people’s lives through volunteering, be it Math Olympiad or music. Learning and earning achievements is great, but it is more satisfying to share those skills with others.
My biggest challenge... is continuing to do the things that I enjoy when everything has become online. However, I have tried my best to seek other methods and alternatives to many of my important activities with virtual Olympiad sessions and the virtual concert fundraisers.
My role model... is my dad. His dedication to family and relentless hard work is something I aspire to have as I grow up.
My community... is very inclusive of every person. It welcomes challenging the norm and people of different values and backgrounds. I am very grateful for that.
Libraries are... amazing places to seek help from. There are programs and books on most things and librarians are always open to creating something new. We often forget about them, but they are great resources.
My favorite book, movie, or song... My favorite movie is Oceans 11, and my favorite books are the Harry Potter series.
If I had a superpower, it would be... the ability to pause time. That way, I could complete any menial tasks I need to do each day without any sacrificing any time. I could also endlessly relax on a trek, watch movies, or play video games, all the while not losing any time.
I volunteer… at West Valley Branch’s Math Olympiad club. Especially as we are virtual, we are able to deliver meaningful help for elementary students and introduce them to the world of mathematics.
If I weren't volunteering, I'd be… playing the saxophone or relaxing by watching Star Wars with my family.
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