An unexpected but pleasant journey

I have always been fascinated by how both maths and physics can be used together to help us understand the different laws of the universe in such a logical and clear manner. This profound realization has since shaped my appreciation for the field of engineering. Hence, I decided to do my very best for SPM in hopes of securing an overseas scholarship that will grant me an opportunity of a lifetime.

I remember going straight to 2 consecutive tuition classes right after school and only reaching home around 10pm still wearing my school uniform. That's how desperate I was in trying to achieve straight A+.

Spending countless hours memorizing different ‘pantuns’ and ‘peribahasa’ to improve my BM results (my weakest subject) and also spamming trial papers from different states, SBP and MRSM seemed like a norm back then. Not to mention I was also busy preparing for ‘pentarafan’ (King Scout Examination) and leading my scout troop at the same time. Things got pretty overwhelming at first, but support from my friends definitely made the whole experience more enjoyable. A big shout out to the ones who encouraged me to press on. You know who you are!

And before I knew it, SPM was over and results will be out soon. There's this tradition in Melaka that if you achieve straight A+, you will receive an invitation to the Ministry of Education one day before results day for a major celebration the next day. However, the long awaited phone call never came. Feeling kinda disappointed, I half-heartedly went to school the next day to collect my results. To my surprise, the subject (BM) that I put in the most effort for is the only A+ that I missed.

Despite not having straight A+, I quickly applied for every single overseas scholarship that I could find online, keeping my fingers crossed that at least one of them will be successful. To cut the long story short, I went for a few interviews and managed to secure a scholarship from Bank Negara Malaysia to study Economics in the UK. However, this is not the field of my interest in the first place.

Coming from a stereotypical asian upbringing, never in my wildest dream have I ever considered myself doing anything related to humanities. It would be sort of a disgrace and embarrassment.

After much consideration and research, I finally decided to venture into the unknown. Little did I know that economics is such a wide & relevant subject that plays a pivotal role in our society. The very fabric of modern day society can be traced back to some economic theories. The more I learn about economics, the more I realize the profound impact it has on our everyday lives.

Saying yes to the scholarship has also given me the opportunity to make many meaning friendships in Taylor's College & Acts Church. My involvement in clubs like CF, futsal and TAYMUN have definitely made my college experience more exciting. College life in Taylor's was one of the most fun and fulfilling period of my life! God’s favour and my new found passion in economics eventually landed me a spot in the University of Cambridge.

Looking back, I am truly grateful to have been given this privilege.

I think the stigma of viewing humanities as inferior to its counterpart needs to stop. They are both needed in our society and one can't properly function without the other.

There should be no reason to look down on either one of them. Stay open to other career options even though they might not be the norm. You will never know what other interesting career options you will stumble upon. Work hard towards your dream and you will never regret it. Chances are only given to those who have put in the effort. You will even sleep better at night knowing that you have indeed gave your all. Things might not always go your way, but as long as you strive to move forward, things will eventually fall into place. All the best in your future endeavours!

You can read about Aaron’s application experience to Cambridge here and here as well !

Aaron Goh Zhong Fu’, a Bank Negara Malaysia Kijang Scholar, is currently on a gap year and will be reading an Economics degree at University of Cambridge this coming September 2019. Besides playing a ton of futsal, there is nothing he enjoys more than binge watching a good anime series. Aaron is as humble as it gets and one can frequently hear him say, “All glory to God.”