Singapore’s education system is often regarded as one of the best in the world, producing top talent who go on to make significant global impacts. For a long time, I thought that was all I needed to thrive in our typical Asian society: do well in school, land a good job, enjoy solid benefits, start a family—the standard formula.

At first, university seemed like the natural next step in that journey. But after a few months, something didn’t sit right. University felt like an endless loop of what I’d already been through in primary, secondary, and tertiary education. It was all about studying, chasing grades, and ticking boxes.

One experience in particular opened my eyes. I remember applying for a job and being given a medium-level coding problem. “I’ve seen this before,” I thought, having covered it in a module. But when I tried to explain my solution, I struggled. Despite knowing the material, I couldn’t communicate my thought process clearly enough. It was an mind-boggling: school had taught me technical skills, but it had rarely emphasised the importance of clear communication.

That’s when I realized: wisdom doesn’t come from textbooks. The education system wasn’t going to teach me what I really needed in the working world.

Like many of my peers, I decided to focus on getting real-world experience. I started applying for jobs, internships, and part-time roles, even while still in my first year of university. It was fun — and more importantly, it was eye-opening. The more I worked, the more I realized how vital work experience is for building the soft skills university often overlooks. Communication, problem-solving, collaboration—these are the things you can only learn by doing, not by reading about them.

My first job in university made it clear: wisdom doesn’t come from professors or exams. It comes from stepping into the unknown, making mistakes, and learning from real-world challenges.

University has its place, but the lessons that matter most are the ones you won’t find in any classroom.