Post by Benjamin Loh Choon How

🎓 From Flunking My O-Levels to Graduating with First Class Honours 🎓 If you had told my younger self that one day I would graduate with The Bachelor of Science with Honours in Computing Science degree and achieve First Class Honours, I would not have believed you. My academic journey has been anything but smooth. I still remember the day I flunked my O-Levels and how it felt like the end of the world. I was never the smart kid in school and I barely made it into polytechnic in a course that I did not have much choice in. At that point, I honestly thought my path was set with average grades and average prospects. But something in me refused to give up. During my polytechnic years, I slowly found a passion for technology and problem-solving. After graduating, I worked for a year as a software developer, which gave me a glimpse of what I truly wanted to pursue. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I decided to take a leap of faith to go back to school and chase a degree. That leap turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. At the Singapore Institute of Technology, I pushed myself harder than ever before. There were moments of doubt, countless late nights, and times I questioned whether I was good enough. But I kept going. Today, I’m beyond proud to say that I not only graduated with First Class Honours, but also made it to the Provost List in AY22/23, and even had the opportunity to publish a research paper. These are achievements I never imagined possible when I first started this journey. None of this would have been possible without the incredible support from my family and friends(you know who you are ❤️) Thank you for believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. Your encouragement kept me going through the toughest times. This milestone marks the end of one chapter, but also the beginning of another. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that your past does not define your future. You can start from failure, take small steps forward, and still create something you’re proud of as long as you don’t stop trying. Here’s to new beginnings, continued growth, and the next adventure ahead. 🚀