What If My Best Is Average?

I had always been an average student.

Not the worst, but far from the best.  My results slips were peppered with Cs, Ds and the occasional B – making me never the worst student in class, yet nowhere near the top.

Unlike some of my peers who had a clear direction and knew what they wanted to pursue in life, I did not have a clue. All I knew was to follow the well-trodden path laid out by society and the people around me, which was getting good grades, going to university and landing a suitable job.

It is a pragmatic route, no doubt. Good grades open doors to qualifications, and qualifications lead to good jobs. But for a long time, persistent questions lingered in my mind: what if it is not for me? If we are all unique, shouldn’t our journeys be different too?

Teenage Angst and Uncertainty

It helps, of course, to be extraordinarily good at something. Not just good, but exceptionally so. If I were talented at sports, music, science, maths or art, I would have had a clear path forward. But I had no such niche or talent. 

What I did have, however, was a love for reading and writing. English was my strongest subject, and I dreamt quietly of being a journalist, screenwriter, or even a novelist – they all seemed like exciting and plausible careers. But who will shout about their love for reading and writing? It felt as laughable as admitting, "I’m good at watching TV".

The Turning Point

Everything changed when I did poorly at my O-Level prelim examinations. It wasn’t just the sting of failure that gave me clarity but the looming reality of limited academic choices ahead. The thought of being stuck in a route I had no interest in scared me more than the grades themselves. That fear lit a fire in me.

From then on, I made a pact with myself. If there is something I must do, whether I enjoy it or not, I will do it with intention and effort. That simple mindset became a fundamental principle of how I approach life.

Later, when I majored in Communications at university, I rediscovered my passion for stories and ideas. I jumped at the chance to take classes in sociology, art history and philosophy, not because they promised career prospects but because they intrigued me.

Yes, I did take the traditional route to university. I also discovered that my early love for words and stories was what I was about. I realised that I wanted to create meaningful stories, in any shape and form.

This meant something to me and was a career that I’d be happy putting my efforts into. Was I still average? I’d say that I was at my personal best.

The writer (last row, in glasses), with his teammates at last year’s MOE Work Plan Seminar, where Design Office brought their specialisation in storytelling and production, along with creative consultation to support the event.

Redefining Success

I joined the Ministry of Education as a communications officer at the Communications and Engagement Group’s Design Office soon after I graduated, with a short stint at a video production house in between.

The beauty about doing your best at what you enjoy also means you’re more likely to be with like-minded people. Going to work is a great pleasure because many of my colleagues are word nerds who also didn’t know what would come out of their simple pleasures when they were young.

Being part of the Design Office means working within a multidisciplinary team including writers, graphic designers and producers to help communicate national policies and developments.

Through our campaigns and platforms such as our social media channels and the Schoolbag website, we aim to make messages more relatable, understandable, and appealing to the public.

The work is collaborative, dynamic, and most importantly, purposeful. The variety of work keeps me creative – we could be championing the work of our educators through a campaign or producing a video reel featuring our Minister.

The other day, I was planning and scripting for a comic strip to appeal to students. Who would have thought my time spent reading comics could one day come in useful in my work? The possibilities are endless.

Ironically, the traits I once saw as "average" are now my "superpowers" at work. It was something unexpected. When we were revamping the Schoolbag website this year, there were many details to attend to. Amid the rush, my teammates gave shout-outs for my positive attitude and good ideas.

I think of myself as a work in progress. When I first took up this position, I quickly realised that a love for words alone wouldn’t be enough. I couldn't just write beautifully, I had to write purposefully too. Completing a project isn’t enough, we should consider broader goals for the public good.

So, I’m still working at it. I will continue to bring my personal best to work. I have learnt that my “best” is constantly evolving, as I embrace feedback, learn new skills, and adjust my strategies.

What is success to you?

I’m convinced that success isn’t a formula or code we all need to crack; it doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s a cliché, but it’s simple: it is the sense of accomplishment that comes with doing what I enjoy and completing something meaningful that I have put my best into.

I do not know what my future has in store for me. I am totally fine with that. But I do know this: if I continue with this process of self-discovery, to be constantly inspired by my experiences and to work on just being the best version of myself, I am on the right path.

That is what living a fulfilling life is all about, right?

Jun Kang’s original article can be found here: https://www.schoolbag.edu.sg/story/what-if-my-best-is-average/

Check out MOE Design Office’s body of work here: https://moedeo.myportfolio.com/work