Maths & Me
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Feb 9, 2021
- 3 min read
FADE IN.
Act 1
INT. STUDY - DAY
PETER sees a phone notification.
PETER (V.O.): A Quoran asks me how does Maths impact on my life?
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): A lot. But it isn't about the study of numbers, shapes and space using reason or symbols to structure them.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It's Maths itself as a subject. Educationalists believe a person's capacity in Maths reflects his/her logical thinking and reasoning potential and qualities.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Around 1969, it was decided that for admission to universities in Hong Kong, an applicant must have a pass in Maths from 1975 onwards.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I can't forget this Maths requirement.
Act 2
INT. STUDY - CONTINOUS
FLASHBACK
INT. SHUNG TAK CATHOLIC COLLEGE - 1969
In CLASS, Peter (15) listens to a TEACHER's briefing.
PETER (V.O.): Unlike Biblical Knowledge lessons which were free-standing. English Literature and Maths lessons were mutually exclusive.
Listening.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I've been doing well in English Literature but pretty bad in Maths. So I'll drop Maths.
Listening.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): We're in Form 4. We should be in Form 7 - the matriculation year - by 1973. If we couldn't get admitted to HKU at the 1st attempt, we'd still have a 2nd bite on the cherry.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Further, studying Form 6/7 isn't a matter of course. And if I couldn't make it after two attempts, I should accept that I am not fit for university education.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): I managed to study to Form 7 and got matriculated in 1973. But HKU rejected my application to read English Literature there.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): After working in Lido Restaurant in Repulse Bay that Summer, I began full-time teaching in Pak Kau College from Sept 1973.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): There I met my future wife Sharon. She wasn't admitted to CUHK in 1973.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Our common goal was to retake the university exams in 1974 and try get into CUHK/HKU.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Meanwhile, I also applied for government jobs due to their prestige and pay.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): In Spring 1974, I got an offer from the Housing Dept. As my pay would be doubled, it was an offer that I couldn't resist.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): It was when I was about to quit teaching did Sharon and I feel how much we treasured our working together.
Sighing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That's how our romance began. I even thought about Sharon while sitting my second HKU matriculation exams.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): After working for awhile as a Housing Assistant, I found out that some of my colleagues were HKU graduates.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): My other matriculant colleagues were very contented with their jobs and wouldn't bother to get admitted to universities anymore.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Sharon did well in her 2nd attempt and CUHK admitted her to study Music there. It was her dream come true.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): As for me, I also did relatively better in my 2nd attempt, but HKU rejected my application again. I felt like the end of the world.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Depressed, I bought a set of drums, an electric organ etc. I learned to drive. I attended evening classes in French and drawings. But they wouldn't fill my void.
Act 3
INT. STUDY - CONTINOUS
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd):All I wanted was to study at HKU. To achieve that goal, I had to study Maths.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): To prove I wasn't stupid, I studied it all by myself. I did lots of Maths exercises. I used public exams to check my progress.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): After sitting three exams from 1976-1978, I got a pass in Maths, satisfying a necessary condition to get admitted to HKU.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Sharon graduated in 1978 and we got married in 1979. But I still explore opportunities as to how I could make my dream come true.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): Riding on a legal scholarship that I won in early 1981, HKU admitted me to read Law in Sept 1981.
Peter types his reply on the phone.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd): That's my story about Maths & Me. I believe it was my study of Logic and Methodology rather than Maths that has impacted on my critical thinking capacity.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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