I REFER to the letter “Straight As but at what cost?” by Dr Pola Singh published in StarEdu on May 11 (https://www.thestar.com.my/news/education/2025/05/11/straight-as-but-at-what-cost). While I understand the writer’s apprehension about the high number of 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) top scorers, I would like to congratulate each and every one of these aces.
I assume you not only did well in the SPM, but were active in various school activities and showed consistency in your academic performance probably since your primary years. Your peers might have teased you for being a bookworm or an introvert, but deep down inside, the hurtful words probably came from a place of envy and admiration, wishing they could shine like you. Learn to accept the expectations that come with being a straight A student but be modest.
Did you get a scholarship? Which college will you attend? What course will you take? Can you cope with a new environment? These and many more will be asked of you (and your parents) to the point where you may start to feel that your achievement is a double-edged sword.
Don’t allow others to make you nervous. Feel good about yourself and focus on the positives. Be confident and believe in yourself because the pressure will continue to mount. If you are sent abroad to pursue your tertiary education, you are likely to be homesick. There you are, alone in a foreign country, experiencing a different environment and culture for the first time in your life. Your heart will tell you to take the first flight home but you know you must persevere to discover a new world filled with unique opportunities and life-changing moments.
With your excellent academic results, you are likely to be accepted by prestigious institutions that demand only the best of you. You and your parents will constantly be asked about your progress. Some who ask are genuine in wanting you to succeed. Others are just waiting for signs that you are faltering so that they can begin raining negative comments on you. Don’t ever doubt yourself because you have made it this far.
Set a high standard for yourself and stay focused on the future. Never get complacent. When you are intent on achieving your dreams, do not be afraid to strive for it. Skills can be acquired and honed, knowledge can be collected and wisdom comes with time. But it is only by having a passion for your studies that you will succeed and be better than the competition. And again, you will find yourself the envy of others.
DR ARZMI YAACOB
Ex-academic
