Rethinking Success: How I Balanced Leadership, Business, and Studies

During an interview, I was asked a question that people wonder when they hear about my commitments — Vice-President of NTU Sailing, President of NBS Inflammaré, Advisor of Project MERCI, Founder of Inyak Paddlers, and Co-Founder of ShutterSync — all while being a full-time student: “How do you cope with your studies?”

My honest answer surprised them. Grades were never my priority.

But before you jump to conclusions, let me clarify: this doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy or value academics. In fact, I truly enjoyed my modules at NTU, perhaps even more than most. What I rejected was the idea that grades are the only benchmark of learning or success.

Learning Beyond Exams

For me, each course was like a puzzle piece, fitting directly into my journey as a business owner and leader. For instance:

• Business Law taught me how to think critically about contracts, helping me draft agreements that protect both myself and my stakeholders.

• Accounting gave me the financial discipline to prepare statements and understand the numbers behind business decisions.

• Beyond these, nearly every other module helped me refine the way I managed projects, led teams, or built sustainable ventures.

So while I didn’t perform exceptionally in exams — because exams weren’t my focus — I was deeply satisfied that I could apply what I learned in real-world contexts.

Finding My Bottom Line

Of course, taking on so much meant my schedule was constantly packed. But I developed my own non-negotiables:

• Never skip class for work.

• Never miss deadlines or appointments.

• Always give my best in both academics and commitments, even if the results differ.

These ground rules allowed me to juggle everything without losing sight of what mattered most. It also taught me to be highly productive with the little time I had, squeezing out the most value from each hour.

A Different Perspective on Success

I hope this perspective reassures those who struggle with grades. Success doesn’t always come in the form of exam scores. For me, it came from:

• The ability to apply classroom learning directly to my businesses.

• The growth I experienced from taking on multiple leadership roles.

• The balance I found between personal development, academics, and community work.

At the end of the day, grades are one metric — but they’re not the metric. What truly matters is whether you’re learning, growing, and applying your knowledge in ways that make an impact.