Your O Levels and JC/Poly Grades Aren't Your Destiny. Your Next Move Is.

You are in secondary school or JC/polytechnic right now. You have got time before joining the workforce. Good news, because you're going to need it: not to stress over A1s, 4.0 GPAs and 70 RPs, but to build something most of your peers won't or can't.

Here's the hard truth I see playing out every day: outstanding grades alone don't get you into top universities anymore. Worse, they definitely don't set you apart once you're there. Most employers aren't also hunting for perfect GPAs. They want proof you can actually do something.

I speak with brilliant graduates constantly who crushed their As but are lost when it comes to standing out. They're competing with thousands of others with identical credentials. The ones getting the real opportunities? They've got a distinct hook. Something that makes them memorable that they stand out in the crowd.

This time you have now is your runway to build it.

Whether you're aiming for university admission or preparing for what comes after, start now:

1. Develop a real skill. Not just subject mastery. Something specific and monetizable. Coding, content creation, design, teaching, building. Something people will actually pay for.

2. Learn to communicate impact. Sales, persuasion, storytelling. The ability to make people believe in what you're doing, not just understand it.

   
   

3. Show, don't tell. Build a portfolio, launch a small project, start a community, help someone solve a problem. Universities see thousands of personal statements. They remember the students who've done things. Same for employers evaluating stacks of CVs.

4. Embrace your edge. What makes you different? Don't hide it behind perfect grades. Lean into it.

Here's the part most people miss: if employers or universities don't recognize the value you're creating, you don't need their permission to succeed. You can become your own boss. Start small. You don't need massive capital to begin. Some of the most successful start-ups start with bootstrapping. A student offering dialect lessons to classmates. Another creating design templates for bags/shoes and selling them online. Someone building a community around their passion and monetizing it later. These aren't dreams. They're happening right now.

The students who will get into top universities, land meaningful opportunities, or build their own path forward aren't necessarily the ones with the highest marks. They are the ones who understood that grades are a baseline, not a destination.

You have got years ahead. Use them wisely. If you're not sure where to start, that's exactly what Ryse is here for. To help you find your distinct advantage and build it deliberately. Reach out. Let's talk about your path forward.

That's how you actually stand out.