Outstanding all-round performance by Malindra

By Lakmal Welabada

"The world doesn't reward you for having a dream. It rewards people for hard work, determination and commitment," said Malindra who is an all-rounder. Malindra Manushani Jayaratne won the fourth place in economics at the Edexcel Ordinary Level International examination in June, 2012. Malindra is a product of the Asian International School.

After achieving eight A Star passes of the ten subjects she took for her Ordinary Level Examination, she selected the science stream for the Advanced Level examination to fulfil her dream to become a scientist in bio-medical science.

Malindra was a bright student becoming the first in the class at every term test since Kindergarten. She has won many awards academically and has brought honour to her school: Best All Round Student Middle School (2009/2010)- Best All Round Student - O/Level Science -(2011/2012).

Her performance is not restricted to academic success. She has been the school swimming champion for many years. Malindra is the co-captain of the swimming team in the school. "Swimming," she says, "enables me to cope with stress and pressure." Chess and ballet are her past times. Chess, she believes has helped her to enhance her concentration and ballet has given her the endurance to balance her mind and body.

Whatever the success she has accomplished, Malindra is a youngster with a keen, cool, undisturbed and reserved personality. Even amidst stiff competition such as of a swimming meet.

She aims for her winning target and gets the cup without hesitation. Her charisma amazes whoever gets to know her.

During her leisure time Malindra would choose either an old volume of 'Harry Potter' or a new album of 'One Direction'. Travelling to the placid and enchanting sceneries with her parents and the younger sister such as in the up country, down South or in a forest surrounded by wildlife are preferred to sooth her mind.

Malindra's first ambition to become a doctor changed after her visit to the children's ward at the Cancer Hospital, Maharagama through the school Interact Club. She wondered why a cure for cancer has still not been found. Seeing the innocent little cute children with bald heads and grasping for life, motivated her to become a scientist and to continue the ongoing research work to find a medicine for the terminal illness.

"I decided to choose science subjects, determined than ever to find a cure for such deadly diseases so that people could be relieved from not only physical but also the emotional burden," says Malindra.

With the urge to know more and gain at least a little bit of practical knowledge, she interned at Genetech Molecular Diagnostics in Sri Lanka.

This gave her the rare opportunity to interact with scientists who conduct research in molecular genetics and she was also able to learn molecular techniques used in diagnosing infectious diseases. It further provided her with an opportunity to engage in DNA typing for forensic casework and parentage testing. She also contributed to a project which was aimed at developing an in-house STR ladder for the detection of Downs Syndrome and was able to extract from blood samples and use them in PCR amplifications.

The experience was an eye-opener and helped her to instil an unwavering interest in the field of science. She was also interned at a private hospital in Colombo to experience the hectic work of doctors who work tirelessly to save millions of lives.

Malindra is a school prefect and a student councillor. While gaining satisfaction by serving the needy through the Interact Club, she got the opportunity to organise the school Science Fair by being an active member of the school Science Union. Her excellent skill to balance academics, extra-curricular activities and leadership roles foretells that she would be an asset not merely to Mother Lanka, but to the whole world one day. Malindra hopefully will be a leading scientist and launch her research work to eradicate the deadly diseases.

She is grateful to her parents Mr. and Mrs.Upali Jayaratne, her principal, Ms Priyanthi Seneviratne, Directress and Chairperson of the Asian International School respectively Dr(Mrs) Goolbai Gunasekara and Mrs.Nalangi Perera for their unlimited support and encouragement rendered to her for all her achievements and would like to thank all the teachers who helped her in school and outside.