Outstanding All Round Performance by an AIS Student.
“The world doesn’t reward you for having a dream. It rewards people for their hardwork, determination and commitment,” believes Malindra, an exquisite outstander and all-rounder.
Malindra Manushani Jayaratne marks the histroy of education by being the Sri Lankan Student who won the fourth place in Economics at the Edexcel Ordinary Level International examination in June, 2012. Malindra is another proud product of the Asian International School.
After achieving eight A Star passes out of the ten subjects she took for her O/Ls, she decided to select the science stream for A/ Ls in order to fulfil her dream to become a scientist in the bio-medical science field.
Malindra has been known as ‘the brightest out of brights’ as she has topped the class in every term at school since Kindergarten, and was never ever positioned second since 2010 and achieving highest average in the whole Grade most of the time.. Even in the world it’s a rare record. She has achieved many awards academically and has brought honour to her school. Best All Round Student Middle School (2009/2010)- Best All Round student – O/Level Science –(2011/2012).
Her performance not restricted merely with the academical success. She has been the school swimming champ for the past many years, amongst international schools and national level. Malindra holds the Co- captancy of the Swimming team in the school. “Swimming,” she says, “gives me ability to cope with stress and pressure.” Chess and ballet are her past times. Chess, she believes has helped her to enhance her concentration power, and ballet has given her the endurance to balance her mind and body.
Whatever the success she has accomplished, Malindra is a youngster with a keen, cool, undisturbed and reserved personality. Even amidst a hot competition such as of a swimming meet in which the others are in a jittery commotions, our Miss Cool doesn’t even jiggle. She aims her winning target coolly and gets the Cup without hesitation. No matter who wins! She has no competition with anyone, no harsh feelings nor resentment, and always with the attitude with ‘I’ll mind my ways and you mind yours and if want I’ll help you too.’ Her charisma amazes whoever gets to know her.
If to take up with a bit of fun in ‘off beat channels’, Malindra would choose either a Old volume of ‘Harry Potter’ or a newest album of ‘ One Direction’. Travelling to the placid and enchanting sceneries with her parents and the younger sister such as in the up country, down south or in a forestry area surrounded by wildlife is the tranquilizer she prefers to use to soothe her mind.
Malindra’s first ambition to become a doctor changed after her visit to the children’s ward at the Cancer Hospital, Maharagama through the school Interact Club. She thought why it was still not found a cure for cancer. Seeing the innocent little cute children with bald heads and grasping for life, fuelled her hidden desire to become a scientist and to prolong the on-going research work to find a medicine for the terminal illness. “I decided to choose science subjects, and determined than ever to find a cure for such deadly diseases so that people could be relieved from not only physical but also the emotional burden,” says Malindra.
With the urge to know more and gain at least a little bit of practical knowledge, she interned at Genetech Molecular Diagnostics in Sri Lanka. This gave her the rare opportunity to interact with scientists who conduct research in molecular genetics and she was also able to learn molecular techniques used in diagnosing infectious diseases. It further provided her with an opportunity to engage in DNA typing for forensic casework and parentage testing. She also contributed to a project wich was aimed at developing an in-house STR ladder for the detection of Downs Syndrome anfd was able to extract from blood samples and use them in PCR amplifications. The experience was an eye opener and helped her to instil an unwavering interest in the field of science. She was also interned at a private hospital in Colombo to experience the hectic work of doctors who work tirelessly to save the millions of lives. Malindra is a school Prefect and a Student Councilor. While gaining satisfaction by serving the needy through the Interact Club, she got the opportunity to organise the school Science Fair by being an active member of the school Science Union. Her excellent skill to balance academics, extra- curricular activities and leadership roles foretells that she would be an asset not merely to the mother- Lanka, but to the whole world one day. Malindra hopefully will soon be a leading scentist and launch her research work to eradicate and sweep away the deadly illness from the earth. She pays her gratitude to her parents Mr. and Mrs. Upali Jayaratne, her principal, Ms Priyanthi Seneviratne, Directress and Chairperson of the Asian International School respectively Dr( Mrs) Goolbai Gunasekara and Mrs. Nalangi Perera for their unlimited support and encouragement rendered to her for all her achievements, And would like to thank all the teachers who helped her in School and Outside.-Lakmal Welabada