It seems that history has the chic to repeat itself in ways unexpected. Indeed, around the same time last year, fellow classmate and laureate Ashwin Thondee had shared his student path with MODE-K [Confessions of a Laureate] and this year, another ex-'Josephian' turned 'Royalist' has won the title of Laureate in the Economics side. Yes, today meet Geshan Rugjee, first in Economics side this year; yet another laureate who cared to share with us a little bit of his student life with hopes that others be pushed towards self-motivation and setting the bar higher! Want to know more about how he made it to the top? Well here's the interview! Q: Let's start with Geshan at home, in tuition and at school!
A: Geshan at home basically would be studying till late at night,watching news and reading.The work actually starts at around 9a.m.I pretty much never go to school and hence its mostly personal work. Tuition is mostly about the coaching.Just to supplement the personal work and clear any doubts in my mind.A must certainly to become laureate! I never really went to school.... [It has to be mentioned that in 2 years of HSC, Geshan attended RCC only 2 months!] Q: Did you work for this Laureate title? A: Yes,I did work to become laureate.I had it in my mind ever since I was in Form 1. My parents were expecting me to become laureate and this was more of a motivating factor- acknowledgement is undoubtedly motivating- than any form of pressure.As for my friends,back in Form 5,I was already a laureate to them! Q:Let's talk about your studies. What did you do for SC and HSC? A: I did Principle of Accounts, Economics, Maths,Add Maths,Computing,Eng Lit,French Lit, French,English,Physics, Chemistry n Bio (hope i did not miss any!)I actually ranked 2nd in Economics and 5th in Principle of Accounts.I started the 3 science subjects in Form 5 and ended up with grade 1 in all 3 subs. My teachers then told me that it was quite extraordinary to do this and urged me to do science- which to most of them was my forte.However, when the subject wise ranking list was released, I was ranked in Acc and Eco, which changed my stance. It was my GP teacher who prompted me to change subjects which I did in the 2nd semester. I got aggregate 6 for my SC results and then moved to Royal College of Curepipe. Moving there was more to follow a family tradition- my grandfather, my dad and my uncles went there - and needless to mention that my mother too wanted me to go there. And basically, I wanted to taste competition which St Joseph's College does not have.I wanted to know what I was capable of among the very best; that's it. Q: SJC has adopted the mixed-abilities system unlike the streaming one at RCC. Having been through both systems, are you pro-streaming or pro-mixed abilities? A: Pro-streaming obviously! I finished 2nd during the 2nd semester by 1 mark; I was so angry with myself and this motivated me work harder and never again have I finished 2nd at RCC. In SJC, I would be 1st by a margin of 60-100 points over the 2nd. That is huge! Q: So you chose RCC. How was it in the end? A: Classes were good but personal work is what makes u stand on the top.Like I said tuition is essential and more productive as well.I do not have much to say though about RCC for I've been there for 2 months only! Q: So you've chosen RCC for the repute. Yet you deemed it appropriate to study on your own: why? A: School to me is 3 hours of study time when we exclude recess and joking around with friends. Also I'm not free to learn what I want in school. While at home,I have more time and freedom to learn whichever subject I want to. For example, I can delve myself into studying economics for a whole day if that's what I feel like doing - which is not possible at school. Indeed, you can elaborate a study-plan to your advantage and to your needs. Q: So, do you think our education system isn't conducive enough to education ? Breaking a day with 7/8 periods of 30/35 minutes breaks the flow of learning ? A: No the education system is not good enough. It's too much of cramming and not really knowing the subject! You cannot expect to have the same plan of work for every student because everyone is different. Q: Too much cramming? You mean too much theory parrot-learning and not enough practical learning? A: Yes too much...For example. in Economics, many know the theory but only that theoretical part; only a few can actually apply it. And this is sad. Q: Okay, so what about your future studies? A: Studying finance. UK possibly, and this year itself. Q: Planning on returning to paradise island though? A: The governments wants us to serve the country for 2 years,but there is no bond at all.I shall return only if the salary here is good,otherwise its not worth it. Q: The million-dollar question: what makes a laureate? A: Hehe! A laureate is having a balanced life. I actually went clubbing a month before exams and played tennis once every week.I realized that studying alone is not productive; you have to couple it with other activities as well. This is what gives results! So, here we are. Another laureate states his preference for the streaming system. I will ceaselessly fuel this seemingly never-ending debate about whether or not a pro-streaming system is superior to the mixed abilities one. Don't you think it's time our Mauritian youth is actually educated in its holistic sense rather than serve as mere guinea pigs for some master plan. So question today is: Are you pro-streaming or pro-mixed abilities? Which one have you tested and what are your opinions as a student? Until we reach a consensus (which I believe would be to merge both systems into some sort of a hybrid system which would be focused on inclusion rather than exclusion), never stop asking yourselves questions! Sine Cera
5 Comments
Nilinka
2/20/2013 12:02:47 pm
Thank you for this interview . It is motivating to read about laureates especially when you are competing .
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Kieran
2/20/2013 03:44:42 pm
For the first time i hear somebody sharing my point of view about education. If i were to put a title here it would be "practical intelligence" (which society fails to understand)
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Kelvin
3/1/2013 04:11:38 am
Then I believe you are pro-home-schooling then?
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Another Laureate
6/3/2013 08:49:53 pm
Don't believe that this is the only way to become a laureate. School work can prove to be that ''essential'' part in many cases. And coming from a star school is definitely not a prerequisite to be a laureate.
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