Sufiah Yusof
Sufiah Yusof (born 1984) is a British mathematics prodigy originally from Malaysia. She is now working as a social worker.
[edit] Biography
Sufiah Yusof first made headlines in 1997 when she gained entry into St Hilda's College, Oxford to study mathematics at the age of 13.[1][2]
In 2001, she ran away from her student flat in Oxford, after taking her final examination paper for the academic year.[3] She was found working as a waitress in a Bournemouth Internet cafe two weeks later, but refused to return home, alleging that her parents made life difficult for her at home.[4] She stayed with a foster family instead.
She married a trainee lawyer from Oxford. She was working at the time as an administrative assistant for a construction company. Her marriage ended after 13 months.
Sufiah's mother is Malaysian while her father, Farouk, is a Pakistani.[5] She is a citizen of the United Kingdom.
In March 2008, it was discovered that after many ups and downs in her life she finally reached a point where she became a prostitute. At that point she felt her life completely destroyed and it took her many years to recover. One of her friends described her change of fortunes as "desperately heartbreaking", adding that "her gift [for mathematics] really has been a curse".
In December 2008 a Singaporean Islamic organisation reported that Sufiah had regretted her former activities. She is now working as a social worker.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ Andrew Marshall (17 February 2003). "Small Wonders". Time. http://www.time.com/time/asia/covers/501030217/story3.html. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
- ^ "Oxford place for girl, 12". The Times. 13 January 1997. p. 2.
- ^ Oliver Wright (3 July 2000). "Teenage girl prodigy goes missing after Oxford exams". The Times. p. 1.
- ^ Alfred Lee (8 July 2000). "Police find runaway prodigy in London hotel". The Straits Times.
- ^ Sufiah a social worker
- ^ "Sufiah now a social worker". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. 2008-12-03. http://www.straitstimes.com/print/Breaking%2BNews/SE%2BAsia/Story/STIStory_309796.html. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
