LIFE threatening allergies are proving to be a driving force for a top student who now plans to study medicine at Cambridge University.
Amae Fung found herself battling anaphylactic shock after eating a peanut butter sandwich when she was four.
Hong Kong-born, brought up in Singapore from the age of one, she had to be rushed to hospital as her airways closed and her skin broke out in hives, as her immune system reacted to the peanuts. The incident has since prompted her to research allergies.
“My parents weren’t very well informed about allergies which prompted me to write and illustrate a children’s picture book on the subject – Allergy Warrior,” said the 18-year-old, who left the United World College of South East Asia to study at Concord College, Acton Burnell, near Shrewsbury, two years ago, where she is a member of the Medical Society and head girl.
Amae secured three A*s in biology, chemistry and maths, completed an EPQ on the co-operative theory of pathogens for which she received an A* and will now read medicine at Cambridge.
“I want to turn my passion for medicine into something I can use to make an impact on the world around me,” she said.
Her book features 15 short stories on food allergies designed to simplify a complex topic allowing children and families to understand the issue.
“Allergy awareness is better in the West than the Far East,” she said. “It is a risk trying new foods when I am out but I feel safer when I eat in the UK. After publishing my book Concord College was great at pushing it out to a wider audience.
“I was able to address doctors at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital conference on food allergies and many approached me afterwards with feedback. We were inspired to listen to one another and I made some useful connections.
“I have always been drawn to medicine because I have had a lot of exposure to it myself. I was constantly in hospital and it has made me curious.”
Amae is also interested in cardiology and was part of a winning Concord College team that designed a non-surgical treatment for arrhythmia, which used an optogenetic pacemaker, in a competition run by Imperial College, London.
“So I am now passionate about science and want to study medicine,” she said. “School has been so supportive as I was very nervous when I first arrived. It has been such a positive experience thanks to my teachers, friends and classmates.”
The numbers are adding up for one of the world’s top mathematicians after he secured a coveted place at Oxford University.
Concord College student Hanks Chong will now read maths and computer science at Exeter College, Oxford, taking one of the most keenly contested places in the world.
The 17-year-old, of Mei Foo, Hong Kong, secured A*s in double maths, physics and chemistry. His EPQ saw him produce a video on the beauty and harmony of maths for which he received an A*. He gained an A* in maths last year.
Hanks is a multiple-medal winner of countless maths Olympiad competitions both nationally and internationally where he has collected gold, silver and bronze awards while representing the school and the UK.
“I am just good at maths so it has always been a positive experience for me,” said Hanks, who plans to pursue a career in maths and computer science.
“I always enjoyed the subject but realised just how special it was to me when I was about nine-years-old. It just fits with the way my brain thinks and I love the logic of it.
“I came to Concord College because my parents wanted me to study abroad at school and university and it is a strong school academically. It has proved very good for me and if you are aiming to be academically strong and want to go to a top university it is a good school to go to.
“Taking part in the maths and informatics Olympiads has been great as it has allowed me to travel around the UK and the world, including Italy, Hungary, Holland, Romania and Japan.”
Hanks has also been actively involved in the school’s Outreach Society, helping to organise a host of events to raise money for charity. An accomplished pianist and composer, he was a member of the Concord Composition Club.
School days reached a crescendo for musician Kee Kiam Soh as he gained a brace of top results.
The 18-year-old, of Malaysia, was rewarded with two A*s and two As in double maths, physics and chemistry. He also gained an A* in his EPQ and will take a place at Imperial College, London, to read a degree in mechanical engineering.
A talented musician, playing both the piano since he was three and violin from age 10, he has also been awarded a scholarship and will receive further tuition at the Royal College of Music in London.
He recently composed his own concerto and conducted the school orchestra. “It feels so good to have one of your own compositions played but conducting the orchestra was nerve-racking,” he said.
“It took nine months to write it, sometimes on an actual keyboard, other times on an imaginary one in my head. While the computer plays it back perfectly with everything in tune, it lacks human depth, so it sounds much better and is more authentic when it is played by a real orchestra.”
While Kee Kiam has won awards for his music he plans to keep it just as a hobby. “I’m not looking at a career in music as I think this would take away the pleasure,” he said.
“I’m keeping an open mind on careers; it could be aeronautics, or F1 air flow, or civil or chemical engineering, but I suppose music could be my plan B.”
Overall, Concord College students secured almost half of all grades at A*s while 70 per cent of the whole year group achieved three A grades or better in their exams. Forty five students achieved three A*s or higher and 28 attained four A* grades.
Students will be heading to Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial College and LSE among other top UK universities and several are heading to top universities outside of the UK including in the USA and Hong Kong.
Principal Dr Michael Truss said: “Our students work incredibly hard to achieve their grades and I am delighted to see this rewarded with extraordinary outcomes once again. They leave school with the qualifications to open up a wealth of opportunities, alongside the benefits of their broader education here at Concord.
“Having learned not only their academic subjects but how to pursue opportunities, how to accept and indeed offer support and how to rise to a challenge, we look forward to hearing about all they achieve in future. All of the staff at Concord who have supported them so expertly and caringly on their journeys so far are proud to see them succeed.”