08/09/2026
Chasing the dream, or chasing academic success?
Growing up, many of us probably heard this:
“When I grow up, I want to be a doctor.”
“I want to be a lawyer.”
“I want to earn lots of money.”
“I want to be famous.”
But as I grow older—and after spending so many years teaching—I realise that perhaps the more important question is:
What do you actually want in life?
I see students today who are incredibly busy.
School. Homework. Tuition. Piano. Dance. Football. CCA. Competitions. Examinations.
Some of them almost seem to have a second career besides being a student!
And sometimes they walk into tuition completely exhausted. You can see it on their faces. They are physically in class, but mentally they are probably thinking:
“Why am I doing all this? I just want to sleep and go home.”
It makes me wonder whether we sometimes become so focused on preparing our children for a “successful future” that we forget to help them discover what kind of future they actually want.
This is something I can relate to personally too.
I didn't enter the tuition industry because I had no other career options. I chose this path because I wanted to build something of my own—something I believed in, something where I could make my own decisions and hopefully make a difference to the students who come my way.
It wasn't necessarily the safest choice.
But it was my choice.
With examinations around the corner, many students are now working extremely hard for their results.
And yes, grades matter. Study hard. Prepare properly. Give your examinations your very best.
But remember:
Examinations are a milestone. They are not the destination.
There is a much longer journey waiting for you after that examination hall.
So perhaps, besides asking our children:
“What grade did you get?”
We should occasionally ask them:
“What do you hope to do with your life?”
And when they eventually discover something they truly believe in, give them the courage to pursue it wholeheartedly.
Different children will choose different paths.
Not every path needs to look the same to be successful. ❤️
