It was not an easy decision at first, but I decided to pursue a career in mathematics, rather than sport, and I remember all too well my first mathematics lecture. I stood in front of the class whilst both looking for a place to sit and someone that ‘looks like me’. That day I remembered the words of a lady from my neighbourhood: “What makes you think you will make it?” This lady’s voice, which I oftentimes still hear, has certainly caused me to work a lot harder as I was even more determined to excel despite the many challenges I had to face along the way. Yes, even now, I still compete against her words.
Though competition inspires some people to reach new heights, I believe that, especially for those coming from disadvantaged backgrounds, it is primarily just about making your best contribution – and not beating your peers – to get that scholarship, or most importantly, “make it in life”. For me, bringing your best to the table (while still remaining respectful), has always been enough to get you to your next level, regardless of who you are, where you from, whether you work by yourself or in a team.
But I cannot help but wonder, if I had grown up in a different environment, where community wasn’t the order of the day, would I still have operated like this?