Simple study ethics of three top SPM students
KOTA KINABALU: Carolina Lee Pei Qian was a picture of calmness when she was announced as one of Sabah’s excellent students in the 2018 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.
The 18-year-old science stream student from SMK St Patrick’s Tawau obtained straight A+ for all the 10 subjects that she had sat for.
Sharing her gratefulness that her hard work and determination had finally paid off, Carolina said she allocated at least two to three hours a day to answer questions from previous exams, and did her own revision in her room most of the time.
“I never go for tuition because I find that I can concentrate more studying alone and asking assistance from the teachers,” she said.
Carolina, who is looking forward to complete her A-levels course in UCSI University, hopes to be able to get a scholarship to pursue her studies at any good university for a Bachelors of Pharmacy degree, as she is determined to be a pharmacist.
Carolina, who is the only child of a mixed marriage couple, was accompanied by her parents, Lee Yeong Chai and Norsiah Makal, and principal, Lee Ken Voon, during the announcement of the SPM results yesterday at SMK Lok Yuk, Likas.
Norsiah, who is a full-time housewife, said that Carolina had been showing good achievements in her academic studies since primary school without even attending tuition.
“She obtained 7As in UPSR and 10 As in PT3, and today, she was announced as one of Sabah’s excellent students. I do know how she did it, but I believe it is her hard work and, of course, full support from the school because she did not go for tuition,” she explained happily.
Meanwhile, for Mohd Danish Iskandar Amran from SMK Agama Kota Kinabalu, who obtained 9A+ and 2As for all 11 subjects he took, said he did not do anything extreme except to trust his school by following all daily activities with a fixed schedule.
“My study time depends on the daily situation because I stay in the hostel, but I make sure that I allocate at least two hours extra per day for Maths and Additional Maths, because, to me, these subjects need special way of thinking to understand a particular topic. The main thing is to pay attention during class, make your own notes and to always be prepared before the examination. Never wait until the last minute to study,” he said.
Danish, who is the second of four siblings, hopes to become a software engineer in critical intelligence, and to pursue his studies overseas.
His mother, Asmahwati Mohamad Kassim, said she and her husband, Amran Muhd Zamzam, have always given Danish the freedom to decide for his future.
“We never use force or impose any restrictions in encouraging our son to study. His success is the result of his own self-discipline, and we are very proud of him,” said Asmahwati, who works as a teacher in Tandek, Kota Marudu.
Danish’s father, who is also a teacher, said that they always reminded their son to be positive and to always believe in himself.
“In terms of his diet, we always remind him to eat healthy food and take healthy snacks that are Sunnah to consume too,” said Amran.
Ivan Avannus Jacob Jimbangan, who is also 2018 SPM excellent student, scored straight A+ in all the nine subjects.
Sharing his study tips, the 18year-old said, apart from asking a lot of questions during class, he also maintains good relationship with teachers because he believes that having good connection with the teachers will encourage him to ask any questions that he could not understand.
“I do not have any strict daily schedule to follow, but I make sure to allocate about two hours per day to do revision. To me, it is important to know what you want to do in life, so that you can focus from a very young age. I am lucky because I am surrounded by relatives who are mostly educated and successful. They are all positive and I am comfortable to share my ambition with them.
“After being actively involved in many innovation competitions and also an exchange students programme, I can see my future as a diplomat. That is my dream, and I want to achieve it,” said Ivan, who was accompanied by his mother, Evelyn Gonjos, and father Stephen Jimbangan, during the announcement of the SPM 2018 results.