For many students in Malaysia, SPM (or its equivalent IGCSE, GCSE, GCE O-Level) is an important examination that defines one’s future. Parents and students view SPM as a stepping stone to a bright career. The first thing school-leavers would do after finishing SPM would probably be to throw their fists into the air. That’s all well and good, but what’s next after SPM? 

One can choose from many pathways, from continuing your studies immediately after SPM to taking a break to discover your interests. There is no right or wrong path when it comes to this but, remember that whichever path you choose, you should ensure it fits your future plans.

If you don’t have a plan, deciding on a suitable path can be extremely difficult. Pursuing your interests in high school can take many forms, but each skill you learn and experience you gain will only help you build a stronger foundation for the future.

Pursuing your interests early in life lets you map out a clear path to a suitable college, degree programme, and career. Explore the things that make you happy and motivate you to do your best, and you will undoubtedly find the right career path that matches your skills. This serves as a reminder that there is no such thing as a wasted dream.

Follow your instincts rather than what others expect of you. Getting information from others is an excellent first step in determining your path, but do keep in mind that you are the one going on this journey and not them.

If you opt to pursue an academic career right after SPM, consider what ignites your enthusiasm. What excites you? Do you enjoy dealing with numbers? Is the fast-paced world of pop culture a source of stress for you? Perhaps you have a soft spot for young children and enjoy patiently answering their numerous questions. Remember, what you think you want to do is not the same as what you enjoy doing. Thus, you must list everything you enjoy doing in your spare time and reflect on them. At the same time, your result slip will also reveal your strengths and flaws. Concentrate on those and select a programme that allows you to perform in what you do best.

When you’re put on the spot to think of jobs related to aviation, the first thing that pops to your mind would probably be pilots or flight attendants. Aviation is considered a niche industry or profession, so on the surface it may seem difficult for graduates of this field to obtain jobs in the future. Despite this, aviation is a growing industry in Malaysia and more students are pursuing the field in their higher education. Yet, unemployment among graduates still remains a problem.

The unemployment issue could also be due to the institutions themselves not having the recognition or authorisation from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), formerly known as Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia (DCAM) Effectively on 19th February 2018, Department of Civil Aviation of Malaysia (DCAM), a government agency under the Ministry of Transport was incorporated into a statutory body known as Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (‘CAAM’). Functions of the DCA are currently carried out by the CAAM as the sole civil aviation technical regulator in Malaysia with the primary function to regulate the safety and security of civil aviation. With the number of aviation institutions rising, not all have the CAAM authorisation. Employers would certainly feel more secure hiring potential employees who have graduated from recognised institutions.

It comes as no surprise that the pandemic has affected many lives globally, forcing everyone to accept a new norm of masks, SOPs, and lockdowns. Malaysia is also no stranger to lockdowns, having implemented various MCOs to combat the pandemic since the start of 2020. Every MCO since then has been associated with negatively impacting people’s mental health, reducing income in households and poverty, amongst other things. 

But what about the Malaysian economy?

Efforts by the government with multiple modifications to the MCO such as RMCO, CMCO, and EMCO intended to minimise the impact on the economy while saving lives and protecting their livelihoods were made. But was it really possible to save both at the same time? While active cases were reduced with repetitive lockdowns, were we seeing the same positive performance to the economy?

Ever caught yourself excessively checking and rechecking your work? 

Do you procrastinate finishing your tasks because it’s not perfect? 

Perhaps you pride yourself over your meticulous detail to perfection and are afraid of failing?

If you’ve watched Disney’s Encanto and find yourself associating with Isabella’s ‘What Else Can I Do?’ or Luisa’s ‘Surface Pressure’, these thoughts may have lingered in your mind a couple of times. Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s ok to experience various types of emotions. However, if we’re constantly thinking that way, then you should OPEN YOUR EYES wider! Why? Because my dear, you’re slowly putting yourself in danger of perfectionism!

Yes, you heard it right. Some might perceive it as good while others strive to reach that level. Perhaps it’ll result in you being chosen among others for opportunities like being selected as a leader or being showered by praises because it shows that you’re perfect. But the sad reality is that we’ve misunderstood the whole concept of perfectionism.

According to Mazmanian and Short, perfectionism is defined as ‘the tendency to strive towards personal improvement and putting high standards for oneself’. Striving for personal improvements is definitely a good thing to work on as it motivates you to keep improving. However, putting high standards on oneself could be deceiving if we interpret it wrongly. 

So, is it alright to strive for perfectionism? Is it wrong to set high standards on ourselves to be successful? To answer this, we must first dissect the myths of being a perfectionist, what it could cost you, and what it truly means.