I thought my journey ended and it would be a while more before I get another opportunity to mentor youths. I put my hand up and volunteered again when I saw an email from the CSR team calling for volunteers.

It was a one time thing and I wished it was a longer commitment this time.

Youths in the program this time are of the same age but in different type of schools. They are from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE).

I first heard of the term, “It’s The End” describing students who entered ITE while watching a homegrown movie “I Not Stupid” many years back.

I think the labelling is extremely unfair.

I have driven past the campus numerous times and never entered. I did not realised I could. Volunteering brought me in and man, I was surprised. The campus has way more facilities than my JC and university campus combined.

We were told students this round are the bottom 5 per cent of the whole cohort who chose to remain in school at 17.

Honestly, I didn’t feel like there is any difference between a 17 year old attending polytechnic and ITE after interacting with more than 20 students.

As an ex HR professional and someone dealing with L&D daily, it really isn’t the certification that defines someone’s success.

In the first bank I worked in, most of the Head of Departments worked from bottom up in the bank like an office boy. Many trainers giving training to today’s creme of the crop in the financial sector indicated O or A levels as their highest certification (not professional).

An ex colleague of mine who is the same age as me in the same bank who graduated from ITE drew a higher pay than me because she had more years of relevant working experience.

This guy I knew while playing at a public basketball court who attended ITE back then is running his own IT business and bought and is staying in landed housing now.

Many of my classmates who did not do well in school started running their own business are running multiple chains of their own restaurants.

I always question why I studied so much.

The common trait of all of them is they did not stop there and went on to improve their skills and knowledge. This is a commendable attitude which not many possess.

After attending school, they kept going and accumulated tonnes of other professionals certifications and or decades of working experience.

I throughly enjoyed the time with the students and I was taken aback when students at my table stayed to chat to the extent that more and more students started gathering around my table and didn’t even go for their breaks.

Maybe they feel like I am an auntie they can ask things freely without prejudice.

I can only say, don’t let the current situation define your future.

More on my mentoring journey here.