The Class of 2025 has worked hard at getting into the university of their choice, and Krishiv is no different. In fact, he obtained a perfect score of 45 in his IB exams! Here's his Tanglin story.   

What is your Tanglin story?
I started my journey at Tanglin as a Year 9 student in 2020, after leaving NPS International. While I am deeply grateful to my previous school, Tanglin offered me a unique combination of a wide range of opportunities and a supportive community. This was perfect for a Year 9 student like me, at a time when I was still figuring out my passions and my future. For the things I was already committed to pursuing, like sustainability, teachers like Mrs Randall encouraged initiatives like my green cleaning workshops, culminating in me leading the project as part of the Head Team. For activities I was completely new to, like debate, there were always students to show me the ropes, and Mr Sheppard consistently showered us with opportunities to practise our skills at competitions. In essence, my Tanglin story has been about unrestricted exploration and intellectual nourishment. 

Which university are you attending? What did you think scored you the opportunity at this institution? 
I am going to study Maths at the University of Oxford. This is an amazing and exciting opportunity that I am eager to make the most of - working as a mathematician in academia has always been my dream, and there’s no better place to build my foundations. Ultimately, I believe the reason for my admission can be found in my deep and unconditional love for maths. And for this, I have my teachers to thank. Over the last two years, Mr Cox and Mr Beamish have consistently stoked my passion for the subject by providing me with a wealth of challenging questions and book recommendations, and by helping me with the math projects I was working on.  

Is this your first choice? What were your other choices and why?  
It is my first choice. I believe the maths degree at Oxford is particularly suitable for me because it lends itself to one-to-one interactions with experienced tutors and thus allows for personalised learning experiences. It also opens doors for research opportunities - I would definitely like to work on projects linking maths and sustainability, e.g. climate modelling. Furthermore, Oxford is renowned for quizzing and debate, activities that I’ve been deeply involved in at Tanglin.  

Is there anything you wish you could have done differently? 
The last year has felt immensely rushed, as I had to juggle the demands of IAs, university admissions and the IB exams. I wish I could have slowed down intermittently to more adequately experience the thrills of the last school year. It is only now that the significance of having left secondary education is dawning on me.  

How did you stay motivated over the two years of the IB, especially during tough periods? 
There were always so many deadlines and unfinished tasks, that there was almost never a choice! I ensured I kept chipping away at the piles of work every day, and I knew I was doing my future self a service by not permitting the pot to bubble over. All the hard work bore fruit in the end!