Thanks for kind words, Utramarina:
The CA Matchcounts state final was a strange experience. After all finalists were done with their written test, top 10 were called out doing their on-stage quiz. All of them are little 7th or 8th boys. After their rank is finally decided, the invited guest (I think that it is the director of Art of Problem Solving) gave a rah-rah speech about how bright their future is. Boys are all pumped up, chanting �MIT, PHD,�� A few girls and their parents left pretty discouraged. This arena clearly does not belong to them.
This experience probably negatively affected their assessment about their ability. They never go back to Math competition again in high school. Gifted girls tend to have multiple talents so they focus on something else that was more fruitful. It seems to me that girl� self-confidence in Math is both fragile and enduring. But given right environment and encouragement, it will bloom. My older daughter have had encouragements from several Harvard faculty members.
