23-Year-Old Turns Math Into Poetry to Help Students Thrive

Botshelo Mthomboti is proving that numbers and poetry make a powerful team for learning.

The 23-year-old accountant from Soshanguve, South Africa, has written four books that blend mathematics and accounting with verse, making intimidating subjects feel accessible and even fun. Teachers who've adopted her work report that students are not only enjoying math more but getting better grades too.

Mthomboti's journey began in a township shaped by both opportunity and hardship. Raised by a single mother who survived gender-based violence, she turned to poetry as a young girl to express feelings she couldn't speak aloud. That coping mechanism eventually became her superpower.

While studying accounting at the University of South Africa and working full time, she had an idea that seemed impossible. What if she combined her two loves to help students see math differently? When she pitched the concept to chartered accountants, they told her it couldn't be done.

She proved them wrong. Community members and her mentor donated funds to publish her first book, "A Black Child Transformed by Accounting." Then came "The Poetic Atmosphere of Mathematics," a book designed specifically for learners who might struggle with math's traditionally rigid classroom presentation.

The book tackles everything from basic fractions to complex calculations, starting with motivational poems that prepare students mentally before diving into the numbers. One section encourages teachers to have students perform the poems in front of classmates, creating interactive discussions that stick in memory far better than lectures alone.

Creating accurate math poetry wasn't easy. Mthomboti admits the mathematics book gave her the most trouble because she couldn't sacrifice precision for creativity. But the effort paid off when teachers started recommending it and students began reporting improved performance.

Why This Inspires

Mthomboti's work shows how creativity can unlock subjects that intimidate students. By making math playful rather than frightening, she's giving young people permission to engage with concepts they might have avoided. Her approach recognizes that different brains learn differently, and that poetry's rhythm and imagery can cement understanding just as effectively as traditional drills.

Her vision extends beyond individual classrooms. She wants to work with South Africa's Department of Basic Education to integrate creative learning tools into the national curriculum, particularly for subjects students often view as inaccessible.

In 2023, the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants featured her as a speaker and performer at their Trainee Trailblazer Awards, recognizing her innovation in education. With two more books on accounting now published, she's building a library that treats numbers not as obstacles but as opportunities for expression and growth.

Mthomboti's mother remains her strongest supporter, the same strength that helped them survive difficult circumstances now fueling her daughter's mission to transform education.

For this young innovator, poetry and accounting aren't opposites but partners in making learning something students can truly master and enjoy.