After taking a gap year, Jane joined us as part of the High-Flyer programme on MMath Mathematics. Jane is also involved in our Maths committee, acting as an event coordinator for the Maths ball, teaching female students how to code as part of CodeFirst: Girls program and is actively involved in various sports. Here she tells us about her Strathlife...
Can you tell me a bit about your background and led to you studying at Strathclyde?
Whilst in high school I was pursuing a career in Medicine but, fortunately (in hindsight!), I was rejected. I reflected on the experience and thought about what I am going to do in my gap year – do I want to apply to medical school again? I decided no as it wasn’t where my true passion lies, maths was my favourite subject at school, so I decided that was the best route to take. Upon starting university and studying mathematics, I know I made the correct decision and have found this wonderful opportunity that encapsulates all the reasons why I applied to medical school in the first place.
Why did you decide to study at Strathclyde?
I chose to study at Strathclyde as it is close to home, and I was accepted into the High-flyer program due to my school achievements. Additionally, still thinking about the potential of a medical career, there was the option to take a medical statistics course in 4th year.
Describe Strathclyde in three words
Inclusive, diverse and friendly!
What has been the highlight of your course?
Meeting so many amazing people and having the opportunity to grow and learn as a person.
Strathclyde is in an excellent central location with great transport links, making it a great choice for those wanting to stay at home while they study. Glasgow also has a very friendly atmosphere making it a welcoming environment to be a part of.
What advice would you give to someone looking to study here?
Now that I have discovered my true passion, my advice when applying to any university would be to look at the variety of modules available each year and how much scope there is to change career path. Strathclyde is an excellent university for those wanting to pursue a finance/statistical career after a maths degree.
What has been your main challenges?
I certainly haven’t made my time at Strathclyde easy! Skipping the first year and joining the second year meant I had a lot of catching up to do and reminding myself of all the maths I forgot! After completing my 2nd year, I then went on a semester exchange to Toronto where again, I was lacking maths knowledge I hadn’t yet been taught.
What are your ambitions for the future?
I am exceptionally passionate about technology and the adaptation of the world to the rate at which technology is advancing. As a result, I have been pursuing a career in cybersecurity. Keeping ourselves safe from the online world is a difficult task and is only going to get harder with new developments such as quantum computing. After my undergraduate degree, I hope to continue in research and complete a PhD in cybersecurity.
What specialist knowledge/professional skills have you developed studying your course?
During my course, I have been able to experience and learn lots of new skills. These include thinking like a mathematician and learn how to code using several different languages are software packages. I have since gone on to teach others how to code because I love it!
What’s the best thing about studying at Strathclyde?
I am close to my family and have the ability to take part in lots of extracurricular activities such as sport or attending events across the country.
How is your course helping to enhance your current career and prepare you for your future career?
My course is teaching me how to think like a proper Mathematician. Mathematics is a language that applies logic and reason to challenging puzzles that can be solved to make sense of the world around us. For me, working through complex mathematical problems to uncover or prove answers is extremely satisfying. No matter what is going on around me, I find problem-solving and learning both exciting and therapeutic. I will be able to take this skill of thinking through problems with me into future endeavours.
