2008年
在国外，上大学需要向学校提供自己的推荐信，有的推荐信由自己写成，有的则由推荐人写出。收到推荐信的学校会通过信件结合考试成绩决定是否被录取，因此，一封有特色的推荐信往往有着神奇的功效。下文是在英国的中国留学生向大学提供的自荐信，该封自荐信以不同于平常信件的特色博得了学校的欣赏。本刊特向广大读者朋友鼎力推荐。对中国的学生而言，使用自荐信最多的时候是在找工作的时刻，也许从这里你能够找到一些启发。特别感谢绍梦同学自英国发来她的原文同读者朋友共享。
My name is Shao Meng and I am a resident as a full-time boarder at St Felix School, Southwold in Suffolk.I am studying Double Maths and Economics.My aim is to read Pure Maths at university and continue onto a research degree and then onto an academic career in mathematical sciences.
I have always been fascinated by Maths, from the Jiuzhang Suanshu (Nine Chapters on Mathematical Art) and heavily influenced by the ancient Chinese study of Nine and something called Nine-Square. Ziuzhang Suanshu is a handbook detailing the practical application of maths to every day commercial problems. The Nine-Square teaches the integrity and wholeness of life, the nine little squares are each an integral part of each other, yet each square has its own characteristic and is indispensable to the square as a whole.Still the nine-square is changeable and mysterious, but this is what makes it fascinating.
I would now like to tell you about myself in nine succinct points.
My gender is important to me because I would like to become a significant mathematician as a woman.Whilst more women are entering the field of mathematical sciences, in China maths tends to be dominated by men.
My family is central to my life as my mother and father have instilled in me the need to study hard and aim high.They have taught me that knowledge comes through education and once gained can never be lost.This has a higher value that external means like money and precious metals.
My character is number three.I believe I have a good heart and care deeply about humanity.Last year I donated all my money from part-time jobs to an orphanage for disabled children.I am optimistic and I believe that what you put into life you get back threefold.I don’t believe in defeat.I think Winston Churchill got it right when he said “Success is a series of failures.”
The number four is associated with making things happen in a concrete way.In this way I have applied my self firmly to my study.I am very sensitive to numbers and they seem quite magical to me. In middle school in China I took part in a special Mathematics Training Programme, which for me was fun as well as exciting.I plan to continue to my study and register for an MPhil eventually when I will be able to explore maths in greater depth and undertake research in my chosen area.
Five for me is about art and the merit of the softer, more intuitive side of science.When I was five I started to learn piano, and began to also learn the art of Chinese painting, dancing and traditional music.Strangely, I achieved the Fifth Level Certificate in Piano, but haven’t been able to continue.I think it is important to allow your emotions to breathe away from the science.It helps balance your mind.
