The Arena of Thoughts
A place where curiosity meets reflection — tracing how questions once asked in childhood evolved into the ways I think, decide, and grow today.
First lesson and first exposure to statistics
When I was in elementary school, every time I watched the weather forecast at 5:45 pm, I was always curious about how the TV could “know” whether it would rain or shine tomorrow. I used to sit and watch, trying to figure out how they could say that with such certainty. After some research online, I finally learned that it was the result of collecting and analyzing various types of data such as temperature, pressure, and wind speed to make a judgment. At that time, I felt like I had just been exposed to another world where numbers could predict the future. From then on, I became fascinated by the idea that people could use numbers to understand and predict the world around them. I realized that statistics was not just about calculation, but how we could turn randomness into understanding, and the unforeseen into imaginable.
Passionate about board games and applying game theory and statistics to board games
I have always been fascinated by games where every choice has strategic value. That love started when I watched the movie 21 and understood that blackjack is not only about luck, but also about probability and decision making. From there, I realized that in any system, whether it is a game or a real life, understanding the rules and optimizing choices can change the outcome. So I found the same interest in board games like Catan or Splendor, where players have to calculate risks, resources and timing. But what has kept me engaged with game theory for a long time is its ability to apply it beyond the table: from negotiating, working in groups, to investing and making decisions in life. I learned that winning comes not only from having the best strategy, but also from understanding how others think, react and choose.
Investment
Investment ideas from annual Tet money, Lessons on personal money management through first time receiving money
I started learning how to invest in 4th grade, when I received lucky money and wondered if there was a way to make that money not just sit there. When I realized that every year, the prices of things my family needed to buy increased, I realized that inflation makes the value of money decrease over time. Therefore, after knowing that buying stocks symbolizes investing in the future and vision of a company, I turned to stocks as a way to turn curiosity into action. At first, I only chose to buy large, familiar companies with development potential such as FPT, Hoa Phat. The first few times I traded, I carefully observed the price lines going up and down without understanding why. Not being able to explain the price fluctuations was what made me doubt my own choices every time the price dropped deeply. I gradually realized that behind every fluctuation was a human reaction to news, expectations, and fears.
Stocks taught me two things: intrinsic value and patience. A stock may rise sharply due to a trend, but only companies with solid fundamentals retain their value over the long term. I learned to look past short-term fluctuations to find “hidden value” that the numbers on the screen did not show. Waiting for an investment to grow became my first lesson in patience: sometimes, making the right choice is less important than being calm enough to keep faith in that choice.