Growing up in an underprivileged single-parent household, Mason saw first-hand the challenges his family faced in making ends meet. These circumstances did not deter him from pursuing his passion for mathematics and science. He became an active Science Olympiad competitor and student mathematics researcher, earning an Honourable Mention in the 2023 Hang Lung Mathematics Awards and fifth place in the 2024 Asia Pacific Linguistics Olympiad.

What began as a personal interest in mathematics grew into Mason’s Instagram mathematics page, @a.hong.kong.math.lover, a platform for him to share mathematical knowledge with a wider audience. He has also taken on leadership roles at school and across Hong Kong to nurture young talent, serving as captain of his school’s Physics Olympiad Team and Linguistics Olympiad Team, as well as President and Adviser of the Hong Kong Joint School Mathematics Society.

Over time, Mason recognised that mathematical and scientific literacy alone cannot address intergenerational poverty, particularly when families lack access to financial knowledge. This realization inspired him to undertake quantitative research into financial derivatives and market behaviour, and informed his choice of university studies. He hopes to make finance more understandable and useful to people from different backgrounds.

Through the mentorship and intellectual community of The D. H. Chen Foundation Scholarship Programme, Mason hopes to turn his curiosity in mathematics and finance into practical opportunities for others. His goal as a Scholar is to promote financial literacy through a rigorous, evidence-based approach while continuing to inspire the next generation through the beauty and accessibility of mathematics.