Interview with a past student: Shini Kumar

We know just how important it is to get first-hand information and to learn from someone else’s experience. In this series, we’re bringing you interviews with past students, students from all over the world that have experienced a Reach Cambridge program and can now reflect on what they thought about it and what they took away from living and studying abroad for 3 weeks. Enjoy the second one.  

Shini Kumar from Malaysia/Australia

came for July 2010 Reach Cambridge program

  Where in the world do you come from? I’m originally from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – but have spent the last six years studying in Melbourne, Australia. How old are you? I was eighteen when I was at Reach Cambridge, but have since turned nineteen! Why did you decide to apply to Reach summer school? What were you expecting before you arrived? … I decided to apply to Reach after doing some research on summer schools led me to the Reach Cambridge website. I’d never been at any sort of summer school prior to being at Reach, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was looking forward to meeting new people, mainly, and all three of the courses I had applied to. What program/subject did you study in Cambridge? While I was at Cambridge, I was involved in the Law Summer Program, the Leadership Program and the Community Service Project. How did you like it? I didn’t just like it, I loved it. Reach Cambridge is one of those programs that makes you want to study, despite that you’re supposed to be on holiday. I came to Reach during my month long winter break, and was asked various times before arriving, whether I was sure I wanted to spend my holiday studying. I can tell you, hand on heart, that it is the most fun you’ll ever have, while learning. What was your overall experience of the summer school? (classes, extracurriculars, lectures, field trips) Reach Cambridge is a summer school that has successfully balanced every aspect of what a good summer should be. It’s all about education, learning, meeting new people, experiencing new places and so much more. Reach Cambridge was one of the most beautiful summer experiences I have ever known. What’s the best memory from your 3 weeks in Cambridge? There are so many, but one of the best memories I had was watching the Spain win the World Cup with the rest of Christs’ College. The cheering, and yelling and occasional explanation of what was going on reminded me of how in such a short time, we had learnt so much from the supervisors, teachers and from each other, and how in one short month, we had made lifelong friends. What are you doing now and what’s next for you? Do you think the experience from Reach Cambridge will be useful? After Reach Cambridge, I graduated from the International Baccalaureate and am now studying Political Science and Criminology at the University of Melbourne. Any last words of wisdom for this year’s Reach students? Reach Cambridge is one of those special experiences – so my advice to you is this: carpe diem. Seize the day – apply and make your way over to the UK to enjoy this summer experience, and while you’re there – make the most of the unique opportunities that only a few lucky people in the world are allowed to experience every year! ———————————————————- If you enjoyed reading this interview, make sure you don’t miss any further ones and subscribe to receive email updates for this blog.