Just four weeks ago, I commenced the penultimate year of my medical degree. Having completed my pre-clinical years at the University of Cambridge, I transferred to Imperial College to gain Clinical knowledge from the London Hospitals. Wycherley International School has played a significant role in my path to achieve my ambition of becoming a doctor. [...]

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The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

“My Journey from Wycherley to Cambridge University”…….. Oshini Sivakumar

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Just four weeks ago, I commenced the penultimate year of my medical degree. Having completed my pre-clinical years at the University of Cambridge, I transferred to Imperial College to gain Clinical knowledge from the London Hospitals. Wycherley International School has played a significant role in my path to achieve my ambition of becoming a doctor. Not only did it provide me a firm academic foundation when I walked out of its secure gates, it has also sculptured my personality and character.

So let me share my perspective of Wycherley’s pathway to success. The magic lies in the entire unit comprising the Principal, Teachers, Co-workers and the Students themselves. There is always an aroma of motivationand encouragement to perform well. Healthy competition amongst students sets high standards of achievement without compromising on friendship and brotherhood. This is something I noticed a few weeks after my arrival at Wycherley and I wanted to be part of it.Another speciality is the provision for critical feedback on your performance. There is no value in sitting an examination if you are not going to receive a feedback as to why things went well or not. Appreciating good performance and identifying slips in a bad performance,are pillars to success. With every member of staff genuinely committed to drive you, to set new boundaries, there is an undoubted benefit for the countless hours they spend preparing lessons, marking answer scripts and providing feedback at Parent-Teacher Meetings. As my Ordinary Level Examinations approached, like every mother, my mother too was worried whether I required out-of-school tutoring to improve my performance. But, she was duly reassured by the school teachers that they were available at any time to assist with my doubts and difficulties. They also stressed the significance for students to read and consolidate knowledge in their own time. I cannot recall the number of times I would have stood at the Staff Room door waiting for the teacher to sacrifice her lunch time for my benefit. It has always been a positive experience and I am forever sincerely obliged to the teachers for the unconditional assistance they lent us.

It is high time I commented about Wycherley’s Icon, the Principal of the school, Mr Kingsley Jayasinghea well-respected individual, who was always approachable, to discuss any concept of difficulties. He was also our Chemistry teacher, someone who always wanted to ensure that the entire class understood what he had scribbled on the blackboard. In 2006, he surprised me when he announced that I was to be the Head – Girl of the school. I was astonished as to why I was given such a responsibility, despite me being a reserved personality. On the other hand, I was thrilled because I knew that this would be an excellent opportunity to break the bubble around me. Looking back at this experience and the nerve-racking Vote of Thanks at my Graduation Ceremony, I am glad how things have changed me.

Wycherley’s success does not simply comprise of outstanding academic achievements but there are a number of other things. Needless to say, this school is reputed for placing discipline as the number one priority. In addition, there is a lot of emphasis on the development of cultural values and unity among fellow students of multi religious and multi racial backgrounds. I was amazed by the fact that Wycherley encouraged students to learn both Tamil and Sinhala during their life in the Junior School. The school also provided weekly religious studies allowing students to follow their practice of choice. This is a crucial step in rebuilding harmony amongst our fellow citizens and it also allows us to acknowledge and respect the diverse traditions we encounter, as we move into the wider world. The school also boasts of a number of societies and clubs, encouraging students of similar interests to interact and explore new talents.

Fund raising events and annual school trips encouraged independent thinking and also tested our high standards of discipline outside school. A wide variety of sports offered by the school enabled students to practice the art of time management. I did test my swimming skills which clearly did not match my academic achievements. These events undoubtedly brought friends closer. I cannot conclude without mentioning my friends, who have deeply enriched my years at Wycherley. Despite our now being spread throughout the world, we do make time to meet together, when there has never been a day we did not exchange our memories of Wycherley.

Thank you Wycherley for being part of what I am now, I am forever grateful. I pray that Wycherley continues to mould excellent personalities and high achievers in the years to come.




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