牛津大學數學專業PS（個人陳述） Mathematics Personal Statement
Mathematics has always fascinated me. From playing “shopkeeper” in primary school to my AS-level French speech, I have always found ways to apply my mathematical knowledge in various aspects of my life. My real love for Mathematics began in year seven when we began studying algebra, then progressed from primary school Mathematics to the building blocks of my A-level and future studies.
In Year 10, I was invited to study the Decision 1 module with a Sixth Form class. This opened up a new perspective on the subject, involving more than just the algebra and graph work I was studying for GCSE. The practical uses of this module showed another side of mathematical problem-solving than the more abstract UKMT Mathematical Challenges, whilst sharing the same logical thought process. Helping out with Year 6 Maths this year has been enjoyable, and I hope that I have inspired some of the girls to enjoy Maths as much as I do. After beginning Sixth Form proving Pythagoras’ theorem by various methods, I discovered Fermat’s last theorem. Having found it fascinating that such a seemingly simple statement can take so long to be proved, I began reading Simon Singh’s book on the topic. I found that both Fermat’s Theorem and the Taniyama-Shimura conjecture would either be proved or disproved by simply solving one of them. Although I have not yet studied enough Mathematics to fully appreciate this topic, it is something I look forward to studying in the future.
Along with Mathematics I also enjoy Physics, and since many topics in the two subjects are very similar, such as the equations of motion and resolving forces. Studying the equations of motion last year, I saw how they were derived from Mathematics, by finding gradients and areas under graphs. As part of the Engineering Education Scheme, I had to explain the use of maths and physics in our project to other students and engineers.
In my spare time, I regularly help out in the community. I have worked at Oxfam since year 10, where I do a wide range of jobs including cashing up and checking the takings for the week. After my GCSEs, I took part in the Millennium Volunteers Project, volunteering at CSV Media Clubhouse. Whilst there, I created various databases and worked on reception. Volunteering has greatly improved my confidence, leadership and teamwork skills, whilst enabling me to help others. I have also held editorial roles in two school magazines; both of which received the Searchlight Cup for Teamwork. This gave me experience of working to, and motivating others to meet deadlines, whilst producing a final product that we were all proud to have been a part of. Achieving my Brown Belt in Karate meant that I had to be dedicated to training up to four times a week, and also able to teach others in the class.
In October 2007, I won an internship at BT specialising in cross-media communications research. This was a rewarding experience, as I saw some of the new technology being developed, learnt how to write a report of my research findings, and made a 40-minute presentation on my experience at BT. I am not afraid of speaking in public, having given many whole-school assemblies. In summer, I achieved runner-up in the GDST Somerville and Gurney Essay competition, which was very different to the science and French I had been studying, but also presented some interesting topics to write about, drawing from both personal experience and current events.
I am looking forward to all the academic challenges at university, and know that I will make the most of university life to pursue my subject in the greatest depth possible.
