A Somerville student won a gold award at the British Council’s first International Student Awards, writes Katherine Pateman. Yimon Aye, who is reading chemistry, picked up £2000 for writing about how her life has changed since she came to Oxford. The Burmese student was one of two winners out of over 1700 entries to the competition where entrants were asked to write a letter home describing their life, experience and achievement in the UK. Aye wrote not only of her pride at gaining a scholarship but also of experiences she has gained working in the UK, including voluntary work with disabled people. She said, “I only entered because I wanted to represent my country and I know I am so fortunate to be here because there are only a few Burmese students in the UK.” Aye had never been able to study chemistry until she arrived in the UK but has since won prizes for excellence both from the University and the Royal Society of Chemistry. She hopes to embark on an academic career so that she can return home to help bring about reforms in the Burmese higher education system. She plans to embark on an academic career so that she can return home to help bring about reforms in the Burmese higher education system.
ARCHIVE: 2nd Week TT 2003
Golden Letter
