The SPM results were released a couple weeks back and it got me all nostalgic especially after watching this video which went pretty viral. Well, it’s been almost close to a decade since I held the result sheets for the first time and my worldview towards the education system in Malaysia has shifted 360 degrees!
Let’s be real.
To those who scored flying colours for SPM, good for you! As to the rest who did alright, that’s not the end of world. Coming from a straight A student (yours truly), you know this is a huge deal. Being brought up in an Asian culture, our parents and society as a whole placed great emphasis on academic excellence. I mean, we can only get A’s because we are Asians, geddit?
Jokes aside, there’s nothing wrong for parents to want us to do well in school and most of the time, it stems from the kindest of intentions. But over time, it became a paper chase especially among youngsters; scoring good grades in major exams like SPM is the ultimate bucket list.
Still with me?
So, I’ve been in the work force for a while now and speaking from experiences, there’s a large percentage of excellent people in the workforce in Malaysia (employers and employees alike) did not ace in their SPM. Good thing that they did not gave up in life at that moment because they just went on and achieve things that their younger selves could ever imagine.
I thought about it for a while and here’s what I have concluded:
1. Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think
Quoted by Albert Einstein– one of the greatest minds in the world. Primary and secondary school are the place where we learn how to shape our thinking; how we perceive the world ahead of us starts from this very place. Unfortunately, learning was often deduced to the grades we scored during our final exams. The truth is, 4+1=5, so as 3+2. If only learning is graded based on various aspects and not just academically, we could have gotten a more wholesome learning experiences.
2. Japan school emphasizes on the learning of manners and character building. Knowledge comes later
To further solidify #1, let’s look at the schooling system in Japan. Kids were first and foremost thought to be human. That’s where we exude the very core of our being- humanity. Yes, knowledge is power. But we wouldn’t want it to be embedded into the wrong minds. If a person was taught to love, to be kind, to help others in need and to be resilient during trying times, amplify these qualities into a society, we can change a generation. Also, the streets in Japan are so clean, its reflection caught my very own image every time I complaint about how Malaysians can never be that.
3. It’s the journey that matters
So, you got an okay grades and your parents were probably not cool about it. Guess what? Every day is a brand new day to do better and if you’re starting from a lower point, you’ll have more room for growth & improvement! Imagine attending your high school reunion a decade later, rolling in the school’s lawn in your Bugatti. Your ex-school mates will be thinking about how you got from here to there!
That’s the dream, guys. Make that dream a reality!
4. Tertiary education is your next shot to excel
Honestly, secondary school is a child’s play.
College and university are where the real learning begins. There are a lot of excellent choices out there, but if you’re indecisive, I’d recon you to give INTI International University & Colleges a shot. Thinking back, 18 years old was quite a confusing stage for my peers and I. All of a suddenly, you have big decisions to make and it’s comforting to know that there are actually educators who truly care about your concerns and future!
With over 100 programs available across multiple campuses such as Penang, KL, Subang, Sabah & Nilai, you can always pop by one of their campuses for consultation and trust me, it helps! I mean, you don’t want to end up with something you don’t quite like for the next 4 years or so, do you?
Check out INTI’s Facebook and website for more details!
5. Because these people made it in life
Source from here, here, and here
If you’re a regular on Sevenpie, you would have probably seen this piece of article here. If you’re not, let me summarize it for you. Are you familiar the following names: Steve Job (bless his soul), J.K Rowling (huge Potterhead over here!), Benedict Cumberbatch (Dr Strange, anyone?), Simon Cowell (formal American Idol & Britain’s Got Talent extraordinaire).
You get the drift.
The point is, not only they are all successful and pretty much made a name for themselves, these people also did not exactly had it all in their schooling days. But succeed they did.
Plus, you’re 17, probably turning 18 soon. So cut yourselves some slacks, will you? Once you’ve embrace the predicament of your SPM results, do yourself a favour by talking to the pros from the INTI University & Colleges near you. Otherwise, you can always check out their website for more into.
