I moved to London 3 years ago from Hong Kong to continue my studies in the UK. I originally chose Brampton for its one-year intensive GCSE course, since I would have had to stay in year 10 or catch up on GCSE content by myself if I went to other schools. Soon after joining this college, I quickly discovered that Brampton was so much more than just a place to take my GCSEs or A levels.
Brampton completely changed how I saw education. At my old school, learning was a matter of recalling the knowledge that had been “spoon-fed” to you. There was no “how” or “why” to topics you learn, only “remember”. As you’d imagine, my grades suffered in this kind of environment, and so did my impression of education. It was the teachers at Brampton who turned both of these around – they refreshed and built on what I knew, whilst helping me with unfamiliar topics. Whenever I struggled with something, they were always there to elaborate or clarify. They’re also very passionate with their subjects; Some are so enthusiastic, you can literally feel the enthusiasm emanating from them as they teach (yes, I’m talking about you, Jerry). With the teachers’ attentiveness and care, I realised that I enjoyed learning. I wouldn’t have got 9 grade 9s in my GCSEs if it weren’t for them.
I’ve made many friends at Brampton, even though I originally reckoned that the unsociable nature, which many Hong Kong students like me possess, would prevent me from making any. A few of my friends are from Hong Kong, some from the UK and even other places around the world. These friendships are due, in no small part, to Brampton’s small class sizes – it made the classes feel more tight-knit, you get a sense of camaraderie like I had never experienced with 30-person classes. Even outside of class, particularly in free periods, there are many opportunities to socialise and chat with people in different classes.
Before coming to Brampton, I had no idea what I wanted to do at uni. I don’t think I would have cared, either. I would have done whatever degree my grades brought me to, then do whatever jobs I could. My time at Brampton gave me a chance to think over my future. Eventually, I decided that I wanted to pursue Mathematics. A level Further Mathematics was my first look down the rabbit role, with its calculus and linear algebra (vectors and stuff). The thing that made me want to fall into it, was one of the teachers’ – Alice’s sheer adoration for her subject. She teaches maths with such joy that it’s hard to not wonder what fuels it. If it weren’t for her, and the rest of my teachers at Brampton, I would’ve remained directionless. Brampton gave me the urge to strive for success, and an aspiration to work towards. I am very much grateful for that.
By Ryan Cheng
