They say history repeats itself. Do other disciplines? Choose another discipline and explain how it repeats itself. Explain how it repeats itself.

Electricity; flower petals; broken glass - 3 seemingly different articles that are fundamentally linked by one underlying topic - mathematics. It is extremely rare to find an occurrence in nature that is unable to be modelled by a mathematical equation, and from these we are able to expand our knowledge and understanding of the world around us.

One of the most well-known patterns observed in mathematics is the Fibonacci sequence, which is mainly seen in flowering plants, leaves and branches. These plants grow in a way that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye, forming a spiral that also allows for the optimum amount of sunshine to reach every leaf, making the process of photosynthesis as efficient as possible. Biology suggests that evolution is the cause of this, as those plants with the most surface area exposed to sunlight would be able to produce the most energy, however through mathematics we are able to model the rotation per new cell, which is determined by the Golden Ratio.

The movement of electricity is able to be modelled by differential equations - based on basic laws such as Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff's law, the activity of capacitors and inductors can be modelled giving us a deeper understanding of their capabilities and relationship with the circuit as a whole.

The pattern by which glass shatters is not random, yet instead involves quantum physics and materials science and is altered depending on the force applied, the contact time with said force and the type of glass.

Though history ‘repeats itself’ in the literal sense, mathematics repeats itself through intricate patterns in nature that allow other branches of science to be developed. Biology is based on chemistry, which is based on physics, which is based on maths, meaning that without maths, the other sciences would fall apart.

The repetitions of certain numbers in calculations have led to monumental discoveries like charge being quantised, thus leading to the finding of the discrete charge of an electron, all of which was only noticed by all results being a multiple of 1.6*10^-19.

Putting the complex science aside, analysing patterns and repetitions have assisted humanity in their everyday lives, for example the weather forecast being predicted by meteorologists and computer scientists, who have designed specific algorithms to predict weather conditions for the foreseeable future. Though this seems unimportant in comparison to the scientific discoveries, having this knowledge has preserved human life from occurring, for example preventing aircrafts from flying when intense thunder and lightning is due.

Repetition gives mathematicians content to study, opportunity to discover and a chance to learn about not only the Earth but the universe as a whole. It continuously repeats itself, and that fact is fundamental to every aspect of life.

What would winning a Crowd Scholar scholarship mean to you?

At the risk of sounding cliché, winning this scholarship would change my life. Coming from a single parent, working class household, I have always had to go above and beyond in order to access the same opportunities as my peers and others in my community. As a child my mother would consistently go out of her way to ensure that I lived a normal, happy childhood without our financial status impacting that. Now that I am 18 years old, it is up to me to continue this legacy. Throughout secondary school I worked incredibly hard to achieve a perfect set of GCSE results, and now I am on track to do the same with my A-Levels, and of course, you can’t base a person’s success on their academics, however for me it’s all I have. Going to university is the only way I can escape the vicious cycle of poverty, and living in this world where inflation is continuously rising and my family cannot cope. I want to give back. I want to make my mother proud. I want to become a veterinarian! However the 6 year course length means finances are inevitably going to become an issue, and I believe that no young person should be subject to this restriction. My hard work and determination got me an offer for the University of Cambridge, and I want to push myself even further to the best of my abilities, and receiving this scholarship will grant my wish.

Lauren was our top student entering sixth form, with perfect GCSEs. The first student at our college to achieve this. She is Head Girl, working in Leadership, Mentoring and Diversity. In the four years I have taught her Mathematics, in addition to her academic excellence, I have admired her positivity, the confidence and the respect her peers have in her, and her commitment to helping others. In my thirty years of teaching, Lauren stands out as one of my very best students and one most deserving in gaining a scholarship.

Lauren has a natural talent and aptitude for the sciences, especially Biology. She secures the highest grades in all assessments. Lauren has superb subject knowledge of the different topic areas covered in the course, and is exceptional in the topics that focus on the animal and mammalian aspects of Biology. She demonstrates a strong understanding of the biochemistry that underpins living organisms and excels in modules such as exchange and transport in animal, cell structure and biological molecules, all topics that she secured A* grades in, making her an excellent candidate for veterinary medicine. Lauren is at the top of a large and extremely able Chemistry class. She reads ahead of the class and already has an excellent understanding of most topics prior to being actively taught it.

In Physics Lauren‘s mathematical and problem solving skills are outstanding. Lauren also actively took part in a PAT preparation course organised by University of Oxford to develop her analytical skills involving less common questions. In Mathematics, Lauren is naturally fluent, grasps concepts easily and applies knowledge in a range of situations. In Pure Mathematics, Lauren avidly works on the challenge activities such as MAT/ STEP questions and often explores these further; while in Statistics Lauren enjoys mastering new concepts and is both diligent and persistent in trying to solve other more difficult problems.

Lauren has worked with me in developing Diversity within the College. As Head Girl, she has led whole school assemblies and made presentations to students and parents on a variety of issues. Her determination, her positivity and her ability to inspire confidence in others has led to new policies and procedures, and made a positive change in awareness and support for Diversity. Her work has actively changed the lives of many in our college community for the better.

St. Michael’s College is non-selective. Twice outstanding for Ofsted, it is however below average on all deprivation indicators. Lauren is a Pupil Premium student and I know how hard Lauren and her family have had to work for her to achieve so much and for her to gain an offer from the University of Cambridge. Lauren gives much to the Community. She volunteers weekly at a local riding school and commits the time to work experience. She is passionate about veterinary studies and working with animals. Winning a scholarship, will allow Lauren to achieve so much more given she is a disadvantaged student of exceptional potential.