Since my childhood, my father who was a
Mathematician and lecturer at the University had been talking to me about
mathematics. But there’s one thing was not clear. It’s about the difference
between the points of views of my teachers and my father. Whenever he said such
things were important, they were never mentioned by my teachers, the important
problems that he had chosen were never asked in the tutorials or in the
examinations, and whenever he said that such problems were useless and
contribute nothing towards mathematical thinking, these were the problems that
were asked in the tutorials and exam.
Why? Why is it so?
But surely he could not tell me why. He
always replied, ‘Just accept it as it is.’
All right, but I was now in an
important phase of my career. The coming 2nd year final examination
will decide whether I was eligible to attend the honors class. To be eligible
to attend the honors class, one must get distinction in both pure and applied
mathematics. So, what did he advise me to do?
This time, he answered. ‘You know what
your teachers like and so do what your teachers like.’
Okay, as the saying goes, when you are
in Rome, do as the Romans do.
I studied day and night in my
University life. I did all the exercises. I also searched further problems in
the library to prepare for the unseen questions. I carefully learnt basic
mathematical theories from my father. What I learned from my father,
unfortunately were of no use at all for my academic career. I took many hours
calculating one problem by thorough studying. I did not want to memorize by
heart without understand the problem.
(I become an Honor Student at the University of
Rangoon (RASU) in my dream.)
(Illustrated by Maung Yit)
I studied day and night in my University life. I
did all the exercises. I also searched further problems in the library to
prepare for the unseen questions. I carefully learnt basic mathematical
theories from my father. What I learned from my father, unfortunately were of
no use at all for my academic career. I took many hours calculating one problem
by thorough studying. I did not want to memorize by heart without understand
the problem.
During
self-study, I did not watch movies, and television. My father did not like for
working so hard in my study. He said sleep regularly, and full sleeping is the
most important thing for the students. I thought if I could not get 2
distinctions in Major subjects, my life would be ruined. I had never worked hard like that before. I myself was surprised for my unusual performance.
My mother said if I worked hard like this at my tenth-grade, who knows! I would
be a medical student, and become a doctor!
(My twin brother was proud to be an engineering student.)
(Illustrated by Maung Yit)
In short, I was allowed to attend
the Honors because of distinctions in two major subjects through memorizing and
repeating things I did not understand against my better judgment and of course
my father’s.
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