Beyond the Numbers: A Visit to Remember

Hi,

So, what did I get up to on the last day of Feb 2025? Let me show you! It was definitely a day to remember.

Photos at the iconic and legendary stairs. Skipping this photo? Unthinkable. We're just doing our part to keep the tradition alive. 

Okay, so we had this visit from Kolej Matrikulasi Kedah to the School of Mathematical Sciences, and honestly? It was... interesting. A day with numbers, ice cream, and.. like throwing them a surprise party for numbers!

We started the session by unleashing Dr. Lee. He talked about all the amazing jobs you can get with math. He definitely tried his best to make the students envision a future without involving complex equation. He made it sound like being a math whiz was like having a secret superhero power, but instead of a cape, you get a calculator!😉

Then, we had Dr. Majid, our data expert. He showed them how numbers can tell stories, and some of the students were totally captivated. Look, data handling isn't everyone's cup of tea, but Dr. Majid tried his best to make it digestible. He did show some of the real life examples of how mathematics helps in his research. He also showed them how math applies to everything, from the seaweed on our shores and the lobsters in our nets, to the black pepper in our kitchens and even his latest venture with the prized durian musang king. It's all connected!

After that, we even brought in an alumni, which was cool. He talked about his journey, and it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. He was real about the challenges, the late nights, and the occasional "I have no idea what I'm doing" moments. Which, let's be honest, we've all had.

Sharing by Ismail Nurdin: Sabahan founder, MyTrade visionary.

And then, of course, we had some allegedly fun activities planned. We figured, 'Maybe if we gamify math, they'll forget they're doing math!' Turns out, they were still doing math, but at least they were doing it with a competitive edge. They were definitely showing off their math skills, and some were very competitive. It was like a mini math showdown.

Next, after the tour, here comes the part everyone was waiting for... ICE CREAM! We had a soft-serve machine going wild, and tons of yummy chocolates and cookies from Imtanomic. It was like a sugar-fuelled dance party, and everyone was invited! Oh, it was a free-for-all. Like, we basically told them, 'Go wild! Live your best ice cream life!' And they did. We might have created some ice cream monsters that day. It was a beautiful, sugary chaos.

By the end of the event, I gathered everyone to listen to their feedback and I also asked what their favourite part was? One student went all academic on me and said, "The real-life math applications." Okay, good answer, but not exactly the kind of answer you put in a party invitation.

Then, a sweet girl said, "The teachers are all nice, like you!" I blushed a little, but I told her, secretly, I'm a friendly dragon in disguise. And let's be honest, I can be a bit of a grump when I'm grading. Just kidding! (Mostly.) 😜

But then, a hero from the back yelled, "The seaweed ice cream was the best!" YES! That's the answer I was looking for! Finally, someone spoke my language! Turns out, the secret to a perfect math day is a giant pile of ice cream. Who knew? 😉

Huge shoutouts to Dr. Lee, Dr. Majid, our awesome alumni buddy, our amazing student helpers, and the fantastic Matriks Kedah students! You guys were the stars of the show! Some snippets of the person behind the visit:

The brains behind this operation: Ms. Oh! And my partner in...well, everything, AmirahR. We're the dynamic duo you didn't know you needed. 😆

Naturally, Maisarah and Wen Eng were there. They're my go-to support squad.

Behold! My student helpers. Or my Penangite power squad! Dressed in their official 'ready-to-help' black uniforms. Just a phone call away, and they're there.

Pure joy! These students are living their best ice cream life. And yes, that's definitely not their first (or second) cone. Who can blame them?

We squeezed every last drop of fun out of this visit! This was the final snapshot before they zoomed off. It was a good one!

All in all, I sincerely hope our visitors will have the most amazing time ever, and maybe learn a little math along the way. Remember, math is like a fun puzzle, and I hope you'll join us in solving it! Thanks for making our day so much fun! Until next time!