[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_type=”circular” background_color_gradient_direction_radial=”top left” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(255,255,255,0.89) 30%|rgba(255,255,255,0) 80%” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(255,255,255,0.89)” background_color_gradient_start_position=”30%” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” background_color_gradient_end_position=”80%” background_image=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed.jpg” width=”100%” min_height=”100px” custom_margin=”-12px||194px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-50px||194px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”8vw|1px|0|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.49)” transform_translate_linked=”off” min_height=”192px” custom_margin=”160px|auto|150px|auto|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”61px|48px|61px|48px|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_font=”Ogg|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”44px” text_line_height=”1.2em” header_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_font_size=”80px” header_2_font_size=”28px” header_5_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ header_5_font_size=”20px” header_5_letter_spacing=”0.5em” header_5_line_height=”1.8em” custom_margin=”-30px||-2px|0px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-25px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|90px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” animation_style=”zoom” animation_intensity_zoom=”5%” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”27px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.2em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”48px” header_font_size_phone=”28px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”14px” header_5_font_size_phone=”12px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ inline_fonts=”Montserrat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Unconventional:<\/strong> Grades, Journeys and the Big S Word<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_font=”Montreal Medium|500|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”15px” header_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_font_size=”80px” header_5_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ header_5_font_size=”20px” header_5_letter_spacing=”0.5em” header_5_line_height=”1.8em” width=”83.3%” min_height=”0px” custom_margin=”15px|129px|-22px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”10px|0px|0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px|63px|||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” animation_style=”zoom” animation_intensity_zoom=”5%” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.8em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”48px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”14px” header_5_font_size_phone=”12px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ inline_fonts=”Montserrat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Do grades really matter? Can <\/span>S<\/b>uccess really be defined by how well we do in school? Join <\/span>JAVEN KONG\u00a0<\/span><\/i> as he explores how everybody\u2019s journey will be different. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ custom_margin=”-194px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.4″ min_height=”84px” custom_margin=”-80px|auto||auto|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-145px|auto|-100px|auto|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.4″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” min_height=”112.8px” custom_margin=”5px||-48px||false|false” custom_padding=”31px||0px||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”About Us” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ min_height=”1396px” custom_margin=”-136px||-433px|||” custom_padding=”107px||44px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ custom_margin=”-55px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-35px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”2px|0|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||0px||true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.4″ text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|104px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-40px|79px|0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”15px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n BY Social Media Lead<\/b><\/p>\n Hype Issue #59<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” inline_fonts=”Montreal Medium” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” inline_fonts=”Montreal Medium” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In Singapore, we live with the constant pressures of ensuring our academic success, both to do well for ourselves as well as to avoid the familiar searing sensation of parental disappointment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We take our first trial at PSLE, and the next hoop we jump through is the tribulation of O\/N Levels, or for our more academically inclined friends, IP\/IB. We move on to polytechnic\/junior college and then face the biggest hoop of all: scraping it into university, before eventually battling for a job in the workforce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Grades and academic results are important in getting through these hoops. However, emphasis is also placed on out-of-classroom activities. For example, charity work and events, CCA participation and for some, leadership activities.<\/span><\/p>\n Meet Aaron. School dropout. Sorry, <\/span>successful\u00a0 <\/span><\/i>school dropout. Aaron Alden David, business owner, crypto trader, and yes, school dropout, has made his own way in the world straying from the conventional path.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||23px|||” custom_padding=”||0px|0px||” inline_fonts=”Montreal Medium” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n So you must be wondering, why exactly did Aaron drop out? Aaron was a student in the Psychology diploma at Temasek Polytechnic, a course with only <\/span>70 spots available yearly.<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0 To casual observers, dropping out would somewhat seem to be passing up a coveted opportunity.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Money played a huge factor in Aaron\u2019s decision to drop out. \u201cNot every Singaporean starts off from the same place. Some guys can come out of university with no debt, but if you\u2019re like me, poly gets expensive after a while, and uni is just another bomb.\u201d Aaron mentions the potential debt he would have incurred, and decided that that life was just not for him. He recalls thinking, \u201cIf I want to be successful, I\u2019ve got to drop out.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span>According to Aaron, if he were to have financial security, it would be one less thing for him to have to worry about.\u00a0 As a young man navigating his parents’ divorce, he took it upon himself to be independent and not worry his parents. \u201cWhat if I just drop out, divert myself, and come back when I\u2019ve accomplished my mission?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/unnamed.jpg” alt=”Pet Sitter” title_text=”unnamed” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”427.9px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Aaron walking the unconventional path has paid off, as he\u2019s enjoyed success. <\/span>Photo courtesy of: Aaron David<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_padding=”||0px|||” inline_fonts=”Montreal Medium” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Having such a volatile income stream brings about stress. \u201cThat\u2019s my head on the line, I could potentially lose everything I\u2019ve been working on,\u201d quips the 19 year old. \u201cI got to do my research, and it\u2019s that pressure to be perfect.\u201d His activities definitely take a toll on him, and to take the edge off, he has a few coping methods.<\/span><\/p>\n Firstly, a strong support group is key. Aaron has found that surrounding himself with like-minded friends who share his goals has been vital to keeping him on track. \u201cHaving reliable people in a circle can help me cope with stress, as I\u2019ve got these guys looking out for me, it keeps people in check.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_padding=”0px||2px|||” inline_fonts=”Montreal Medium” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Next, Aaron mentions that dwelling on an issue when you\u2019re faced with one is not helpful. \u201cRome wasn’t built in a day. It was a process.\u201d He believes that the toughest challenge is staying put. Aaron gives himself a pep talk, and reminds himself that the game isn\u2019t over until he stops playing.<\/span><\/p>\n What does that mean? Just keep moving forward. The main point is to not let adversities strike you down and to stay focused on your goals. \u201cThomas Edison failed 99 times before creating the lightbulb. No matter how many times you fail, keep trying,\u201d Aaron says. This means walking through fire, jumping through hoops and not letting anything stop you.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-05-21-at-22.52.19_13a6ad12.jpg” alt=”Lion Dancing” title_text=”WhatsApp Image 2024-05-21 at 22.52.19_13a6ad12″ force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Aaron\u2019s advice is to keep moving forward, despite the challenges of life. <\/span>Photo courtesy of: Aaron David<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_padding=”||0px|||” inline_fonts=”Montreal Medium” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Going back to academics, many of us are afraid of failure (author personally relates). In fact, so many of us are, that a <\/span>2019<\/span><\/span><\/a> study revealed that <\/span>72% of Singaporean students reported feeling this way. The main thing to remember is to keep moving forward. Fear is not a reason to stop pursuing goals.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Take Haidilao CEO Zhang Yong for example. According to <\/span>AsiaOne<\/span><\/span><\/a>,<\/a> Mr Zhang dropped out of school and became a welder. He went on to start his first restaurant with only four tables in 1994, a far cry from the hotpot chain we love today.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Mr Zhang <\/span>admitted to Forbes<\/span><\/a><\/span> that when he started, he didn\u2019t even know how to prepare the signature hotpot dish his company is famous for. However, that didn’t stop him from expanding Haidilao, to <\/span>have billions in revenue and over 300 locations worldwide<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_padding=”||32px|||” inline_fonts=”Montreal Medium” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n It\u2019s clear that Aaron\u2019s journey is so unlike what we\u2019re used to; mugging for exams, late nights revising and buckets of tears and sweat spilled over studying.<\/span><\/p>\n You’d be forgiven for thinking<\/span>,<\/span> \u201cMy toxic trait is thinking – I can do that.\u201d However, Aaron\u2019s success doesn\u2019t come easy. Choosing to take charge of his life was not an easy decision, and it\u2019s something we can learn from.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The thing is, everyone has their own journey, so remember to enjoy what comes. Adversity is a huge part of life so just keep moving! Don\u2019t overthink it, after all, it\u2019s not that deep\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_sidebar][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Do grades really matter? Can Success really be defined by how well we do in school? Join JAVEN KONG\u00a0as he explores how everybody\u2019s journey will be different.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":93,"featured_media":14225,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"2880","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[1569,498,1568,1566,211,47,1565,1563,1564],"class_list":["post-14223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-well-being","tag-aaron-david","tag-academics","tag-crypto","tag-grades","tag-hype","tag-singapore","tag-studies","tag-success","tag-unconventional"],"yoast_head":"\n
Javen Kong\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/b><\/p>\nPublished on<\/h5>\n
May 24, 2024<\/h5>\n
<\/blockquote>\n
The Answer<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/blockquote>\n
Dealing with Stress<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Keep Moving Forward<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n
The Unconventional Path<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Don\u2019t Try This At Home<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n