My Math Journey: From \(x\) to \(\mathbb{E}[X]\)

About Me

Bongani Ncube

Biostatistician | Data Scientist

🎓 University of Witwatersrand

MSc Epidemiology Biostatistics

🌍 Sub-Saharan Africa Advanced Consortium for Biostatistics (SSACAB)

Advanced Biostatistics Research Fellow

📊 University of Zimbabwe

BSc (Honors) Statistics Math & Stats

"Bridging theory and practice through biostatistics"

Glimpse of my journey

/* === PROBLEM STATEMENT === */
const problem = {
  description: "Pure math passion deemed 'too theoretical'",
  rejection: "Actuarial program said NO",
  stereotype: "Everyone assumed I'd become a teacher"
};

/* === MISSION OBJECTIVE === */
async function transformMath() {
  return {
    degree: "Statistics (+extra math courses)",
    skills: ["R/Python", "Data modeling", "Research"],
    scholarship: "SSACAB Biostatistics"
  };
}

/* === FUTURE PREDICTIONS === */
class Future {
  constructor() {
    this.impact = "Health research applications";
    this.goal = "Destroy 'math is useless' stereotype";
  }
  
  celebrate() {
    return `${"SUCCESS"} 🎉`;
  }
}

My High School Math Love Story

My Math Obsessions:

🧮 Algebra addict - Solved equations for fun
📚 Further Maths - Chose extra math course to challenge myself
🏆 Math Olympiads - Competed nationally for the thrill
👨🏫 Classroom tutor - Loved explaining concepts to friends
💡 Lightbulb moments - Lived for that "Aha!" look on classmates' faces

"Math wasn't just a subject...
it was my superpower!"

The Myth

Math Lover Problems:

✖️ There is no money in mathematics
📚 "You'll just end up being a teacher" comments
🧮 "Mathematics is useless, where do we apply the pythagorean theorem anyway😟" myth

🤓

The Problem Space- Reality Check

The Shock

Rejected from actuarial program
despite perfect math scores

The Silver Lining

Discovered statistics + coding
= even cooler applications!

💪 "My high school math passion became my secret weapon"

\(\mathcal{T}\text{ransformation}\;\mathcal{M}\text{atrix}\)

📚 Academic Pivot

Statistics degree + math electives → Built hybrid expertise

💻 Skill Development

R/Python + Research methods → Practical application toolkit

🎓 SSACAB Breakthrough

Biostatistics masters → Health research applications

The Perfect Blend: When Pure Math Met Statistics

From Pure Math:

🔢 Problem-Solving Instincts
Olympiad-trained thinking
🧩 Pattern Recognition
Seeing structures in chaos
📐 Precision Love
Exact proofs → exact models

To Statistics Power:

🌍 Real-World Impact
Disease predictions > theorems
💻 Coding Supercharger
Python/R brought math to life
🔮 Uncertainty Whisperer
Quantifying the unknown

The Best of Both Worlds

"Pure math gave me problem-solving muscles
Statistics showed me where to apply them"

Math Brain

Stats Vision

The Perfect Blend: When Pure Math Met Statistics

From Pure Math:

🔢 Problem-Solving Instincts
Olympiad-trained thinking
🧩 Pattern Recognition
Seeing structures in chaos
📐 Precision Love
Exact proofs → exact models

To Statistics Power:

🌍 Real-World Impact
Disease predictions > theorems
💻 Coding Supercharger
Python/R brought math to life
🔮 Uncertainty Whisperer
Quantifying the unknown

The Best of Both Worlds

"Pure math gave me problem-solving muscles
Statistics showed me where to apply them"

Math Brain

Stats Vision

Next steps….

🧪 Research Impact

Disease modeling & clinical trial design

🌍 Societal Value

Bridging theory-practice gap in math

🚀 Career Legacy

Inspiring next-gen math enthusiasts

Core Message: "Mathematics foundations + Statistics + applied skills = Unlimited possibilities"

\(\mathbb{F}\text{uture};\mathbb{V}\text{ision}\)

Health Research

Disease Modeling

AI Applications

"Math isn't just about exams...
it's about changing the world!"

🚀

Where My Math Takes Me Now

Biostatistics
Masters via SSACAB

Health Research
Solving real-world problems

Teaching Still
Now mentoring future data scientists

🎓 "Turns out... loving math was the best career decision I ever made!"