VIRTUAL TOUR
2013
1 AugRecognising achievements, realising potential
At a glance, brothers Michael Cheah Ming Xun and Keith Cheah Ming Hong might be mistaken for fraternal twins but they are as different in personality as chalk and cheese.
Quiet and down-to-earth, Keith is a keen performer who has won a silver prize in the recent 5th ASEAN International Chopin Piano Competition - where the judges included renowned pianists like Natalia Trull and Li Ming-Qiang - while the more outspoken Michael is no stranger to junior tennis tournaments.
Both scoring 4A*s in the recent GCE A-Level June 2013 examination, the brothers are walking testimonies of the A-Level Academy's dedication to academic excellence.
Under UCSI University (UCSI), the Academy has recorded an overall 90% pass rate in the June exams, with more than 75 students scoring at least an A* or an A.
As such, the Academy is gratified to help prodigious students like the Cheah brothers to be the best that they can be.
Passionate about Science, both are keen to travel down the Engineering route and find the Academy's Science-based subjects most helpful for this purpose.
Through exposure to writing hypotheses and real-life laboratory work in subjects like Chemistry, Biology and Physics, students are not only able to gain better understanding on these subjects but can also make better informed decisions on their career paths based on what they have learned and experienced.
As Physics involves figuring out matter and its motion through space and time, it is a subject that intrigues Michael because he loves solving different puzzles. For him, Physics is the tool to solve the biggest puzzle of all - the universe.
Sharing his curious streak is Keith, who scored 600/600 in the June exam for Chemistry and has a deep interest in the subject as he believes that it forms the basis of life.
The brothers' passion for Science was further enhanced with the help of the Academy's dedicated lecturers, whom the Cheah siblings describe as 'friendly, funny and approachable'.
"I revise from textbooks often and have a lot of questions (that I do not have answers to)," says Keith, who adds that he usually approaches his lecturers for help.
"For example, Mr Chan Lee Pin, my Chemistry lecturer, is most helpful (in helping me navigate Chemistry-related questions)."
Notably, the friendly yet stimulating learning environment at the Academy has shaped students like the Cheah brothers into mature individuals with a proactive mind-set.
Going beyond the classroom
But that is not all there is to the intelligent duo.
Home-schooled for approximately two years since January 2010, Michael and Keith - who are also recipients of the UCSI University Trust A-Level Scholarship Award ¨C are independent thinkers who find that UCSI has given them an edge not only academically but in life skills as well.
Participating in various University events, they have learned to manage their time more effectively and balance out-of-class activities with their studies and even their social lives.
One recent workshop - namely, the 'Awaken the Gladiator Within' - was, by far, their most interesting and memorable experience in the campus.
An entrepreneurial programme for youths, the workshop aimed to provide a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to understand various financial management strategies and learn ways to start and run profitable businesses, to name a few.
At the event, all participants were brought to a mall and segregated into teams. Allowed nothing but the clothes on their backs, they were then given a mission: To come up with a strategy to make money at the mall.
Michael and his team helped shoppers ferry grocery bags to their cars while Keith's team drew caricatures to earn some quick cash.
According to Michael, it was very interesting to note that the team that earned the most in that short duration came up with a strategy of charging 'customers' RM1 for a hug.
"I tried so hard to come up with a great strategy and assumed that people would feel more inclined to pay for service instead of a hug," grins the cheerful 18-year-old.
"It made me realise that you don't need to think up complicated strategies; the simple ones work just as well."
At the Academy, students are encouraged to excel both inside and outside the classroom.
And by ensuring that they are equipped with the right knowledge and skills, we empower them to realise their potential and grow as well-rounded learners that can contribute positively to society.
To find out more about UCSI University's A-Level Academy, contact us at 03-91018882 or www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my/onlineenquiry. You can also drop by our Info Days on 14 and 15 September 2013 (9am ¨C 5pm).
