M’sian teen makes name at Harrow

Outstanding: Arvind was the only student in Harrow School to have scored six A*s in the A-Levels.

A MALAYSIAN student has done the nation proud with his string of achievements this year.

Not only did Arvind Asokan scoop gold medals at several international competitions, he also emerged as the only boy in a prestigious boarding school in the United Kingdom to have scored six A*s in the June 2021 series of the A-Level examinations.

This was no easy feat as the Harrow School alumnus told StarEdu that his decision to register more than the required three subjects for the A-Levels meant he had to juggle his various commitments well.

“Naturally, my timetable could not fit all of my subjects. I had to self-study a significant amount of material, especially as my extracurricular activities would often clash with my lessons. I had to make up for the lost time on my own,” he said.

Among these extracurricular activities was his participation in numerous competitions which saw him proving his mettle in subjects such as economics, history, mathematics and geography.

What the 19-year-old considered his greater achievement at the international level, however, was his winning a gold medal at the International Economics Olympiad (IEO) 2021.

“I also led the Malaysian team through the case study component into the finals,” he said.

Another feather in his cap was leading his school team to victory in the group category at the 2020-2021 International History Bee and Bowl European Division Championships as the quiz bowl captain, while taking first place in the individual category.

The former participant of The Star’s BRATs Young Journalist Programme also bagged a gold medal at the 2021 Asia International Mathematical Olympiad (AIMO).

On preparing for the AIMO, Arvind said it was a five-year journey of consistently doing exercises in order to fully develop his skills.

“I committed to solving an Olympiad problem each day, first thing in the morning. The fruits of my effort paid off when I breezed through the actual test,” he said.

Having completed his A-Levels, Arvind is currently taking a gap year where he spends his time working on a few projects, in addition to participating in a couple of Olympiads and internships.

Recalling his days at Harrow School, where he began his studies in September 2019, Arvind expressed gratitude for the invaluable lessons gained, especially the importance of learning at one’s own pace, instead of comparing oneself with other students.

“The long list of top achievers in the school sometimes made it difficult for me to live up to the school’s standard. I had to constantly set realistic goals that were achievable,” he said.

“I am incredibly grateful to have been able to attend a top British boarding school like Harrow School.

“It boasts an illustrious pool of alumni – seven British prime ministers including Winston Churchill, India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, actor Benedict Cumberbatch and singer James Blunt,” he added.

Its history aside, what drew Arvind to enrol in the boarding school, he said, was its emphasis on encouraging intellectual curiosity.

“It gave me the confidence to think and speak independently. Furthermore, there was a big focus on developing one’s character, which has been a significant drive in my desire to be an agent of change within the communities I am a part of,” he said.

To gain admission into Harrow School, Arvind went through a rigorous selection process which involved numerous tests and a period of stay at the school itself, during which candidates were subject to multiple interviews.

“Some of the things being considered were a candidate’s leadership potential, physical fitness and academic capacity,” he shared.

Describing the process as nerve-wracking, Arvind said he was thankful for the support of his parents and friends.

“I thought of them throughout the process. Mentally, they made me less nervous,” he said.

Following the chaos brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, Arvind faced disruptions to his studies.

“I had to be back in Malaysia while pursuing my education in the UK. The time zone difference did not help – what helped was my group of friends.

“My friends were certainly my pillar of strength. We often scheduled group study sessions to make sure that we understood the material being taught,” he recalled.

Having given his best in his endeavours, Arvind had this to say to students striving to do well: “The grind can be exhausting but at the end of the day, all hard work and pulling off all-nighters will pay off.”

Nurfatihah, 20, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. Throughout the year-long programme, participants aged between 14 and 22 from all across the country experience life as journalists, contributing ideas, conducting interviews, and completing writing assignments. They get to earn bylines, attend workshops, and extend their social networks. To join Star-NiE’s online youth community, go to facebook.com/niebrats.

To “prove one’s mettle” and to have “a string of achievements” – these are commonly-used phrases to describe a person’s success. Look in The Star newspaper for articles and photographs showing people who have proven their mettle and obtained a string of achievements. Cut them out and paste them in your Star-NiE scrapbook to motivate you to do your best in your endeavours.

Now in its 24th year, The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme is continuing its role of promoting the use of English language through a weekly activity page in StarEdu. Parents and teachers are encouraged to work on the activities with their children and students.

In addition, Star-NiE’s BRATs Young Journalist Programme will continue to be a platform for participants to hone and showcase their English language skills, as well as develop their journalistic interests and instincts. Applications are now open for the BRATs 2022 programme. Follow our updates at facebook.com/niebrats. For Star-NiE enquiries, email [e-mail].