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
I used to look forward to the weather forecast every evening at 17:45 when I was in elementary school. How the TV could “know in advance” whether it would rain or shine the following day has always baffled me. I used to sit there and try to figure out what they used to talk so confidently. I eventually found out after some internet research that it was the outcome of gathering and evaluating various types of data—temperature, pressure, and wind speed—in order to generate forecasts. I had the impression that I had entered a different reality at that point, one in which numbers could predict the future. The notion that people could use numbers to comprehend and forecast their surroundings captivated me from that point on. realised that statistics is about converting randomness into understanding and converting what hasn’t happened yet into something we can imagine, not just about calculations.
Passionate about board games and applying game theory and statistics to board games
Games where every decision has strategic significance have always captivated me. I became passionate about blackjack after seeing the movie 21 and realising that it was a problem of probability and judgement as much as luck. From then on, I realised that knowing the rules and making the best decisions can alter the result of any system, be it a game or a real-life situation. Board games like Catan and Splendor, where players must continuously balance risk, resources, and timing, drew me in with that same thrill. However, game theory’s applicability outside of the game board—to real-world decision-making, teamwork, investment, and negotiation—is what continues to captivate me. I’ve discovered that winning requires more than just having the best plan; it also requires knowing how other people think, act, and make decisions.
Investment
Investment ideas from annual Tet money, Lessons on personal money management through first time receiving money
After receiving lucky money for Lunar New Year, I started learning how to invest in fourth grade because I wanted to know if there was a way for it to do more than sit still. I became aware that inflation was gradually devaluing money when I saw that the costs of necessities for my family were increasing annually. Later, when I discovered that purchasing stocks entailed making an investment in the future and vision of a business, I looked to the stock market as a means of putting my curiosity into practice. I initially only purchased stock in well-known, sizable businesses with significant room for expansion, such as FPT and Hòa Phát. I used to pay great attention to the price lines as they moved up and down in my early trades, but I had no idea why. I frequently questioned my own decisions whenever prices fell precipitously because I couldn’t explain those swings.
Over time, I came to understand that human reaction—influenced by news, expectations, and fear—was the driving force behind every price change. I learnt patience and intrinsic value from the stock market. Although hype can cause a stock to soar, only businesses with strong foundations are able to hold their value over time. I discovered that the “hidden value” that numbers on a screen cannot reveal can be found by looking past transient fluctuations. My first patience lesson came from waiting for an investment to grow: sometimes, having the composure to trust an investment is more important than making the right choice.