Pursuing Mathematics as a degree is less popular than Medicine or Engineering, less hands on than Physics or Chemistry and has a very heavy workload, but it is where my interest and curiosity lies. I find Mathematics to be more than numbers and symbols, but rather an intricate language. Besides being academically strong in Mathematics, I personally love the field and do not view it as merely a subect learned, but rather an integrated part of our lives around us. !dmittedly, Mathematics has not always been attractive to me. In fact, it was my least favourite subect. "owever, it changed when my secondary school teacher taught me to view Mathematics in a different light. Mathematics is an integrated part of most fields of academics# without a strong appreciation and foundation of Mathematics, many career paths would be difficult and unenoyable to undertake. !dditionally, without the the love for Mathematics, the benefits benefits of studying the field itself $ such as lateral and critical thinking $ cannot be fully e%tracted from it. &or this reason, I aspire to enter the world of education. I would personally prefer primary and secondary school education as I believe the vitality of Mathematical appreciation is strongest in the developing years and that educators at this level have the greatest opportunity to instil a desire for learning and knowledge seeking. !s a former tutor of basic Mandarin and a history of informal Maths tutoring for my uniors and classmates alike, I found found that everyone can learn to appreciate and and benefit from what is taught to them. "aving worked as the Personal !ssistant to the !cademic director at my previous high school, I have gotten a personal glimpse into the life of a teacher. 'tressful and hectic as it is, my e%periences have conditioned me to working in such conditions. !s a 'tudent Council member, the President of the Music 'ociety and a 'ilver level (uke of Edinburgh participant, my ongoing responsibilities are heavy. In addition to this, I also regularly involve myself with events and activities $ taking up more than )* roles and parts in numerous events in my unior year alone. My most recent added responsibility, organising a Mathematics Competition in the college to be held in +anuary -), is one I am looking forward to commit to soon. "aving seen a friend e%perience a sei/ure right in front of me without knowing what to do, I attended a course accrediting me as a 0ualified &irst !ider to better prepare myself for such situations in the future. 1his not only allowed me to be prepared for emergency cases, but also taught me to be calm and collected in times of distress and panic. 'tudying I2C'E Biology and self3learning tennis and badminton have e%posed me first hand to independent learning re0uired at higher level studies. I believe these involvements have aided in improving, correcting and building on my leadership and communication skills as well as commitment to the task at hand. Beyond teaching, I would also like to pursue my studies to postgraduate level, as researching in and advancing my field of study is a prospect which appeals to me greatly. 4urtured to be in0uisitive and curious, I enoy finding out more about what I learn and discover. I believe postgraduate studies would allow me to e%tend that curiosity to greater e%tents. In Malaysia, a developing country, charity and voluntary work is widely needed amongst various communities. I have tried to involve myself in charity in ways I can,
such as directing a charity performance under 5orld 6ision at my school, aiding the sale of paintings visiting at an orphanage for an !rt Charity and performing for the blind at 't 4icolas7 "ome for the Blind in Penang. I have also volunteered at 8oo 4egara Malaysia and participated in the 2EC &orest 9ehabilitation of 9aa Muda &orest. In various trips and e%peditions, I have met and witnessed the less fortunate. 1hrough my encounters, I find myself feeling sympathy and shame for I know I live a superficially better life, but do not live as good a life as many I meet. In the future, I would like to continue charity work through voluntary work at orphanages or homes for the less fortunate and voluntary teaching at said places, for in today7s world, one with education can go a long way. !s a universal basic human right, I believe education must be provided to them. Making a change as an individual is difficult. 1hrough a degree in Mathematics, I will be able to play my part, small as it may be, in making that difference in the world around me. I hope to be awarded the +ardine 'cholarship in order to turn these thoughts and ideals into reality.
