Latest news with #valedictorian
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Colorado district no longer recognizing valedictorians, Cherry Creek Schools calls it inconsistent and outdated
Students in Cherry Creek Schools head back to class on Monday, but beginning with the graduating class of 2026, the district will no longer recognize valedictorians and students won't be given the title. The district says it's an outdated and inconsistent process, but some former and current students don't agree. Valedictorian is a title given to the highest-performing student in the class. Often, the valedictorian also delivers a speech at graduation. Jennifer Tejawijaya will be a senior this year at Cherokee Trail High School. She's part of the first graduation class impacted and recalls when she learned about the district's decision. "I just remember being really confused, like sitting and thinking about how it kind of just shelters students from failure," said Jennifer. She's also an aspiring valedictorian who won't get the chance to aim for the title. "That's a goal that I've had for myself, even if I get the title or if I don't, but not like knowing that I don't get the recognition that other people have gotten for years before me is a little frustrating," said Tejawijaya. In a statement from the district, they say they found inconsistencies among schools in the numbers of valedictorians and qualifications for valedictorians. Only five of the eight high schools consistently named valedictorians, and Cherry Creek High School didn't have one for the last 30 years or more. Christopher Gimelshteyn and Chukwudi Nwobodo both just graduated several months ago with the valedictorian honor from Cherokee Trail. The two were among several valedictorians named at the high school last year, and part of the last class to do so. "I always knew that I was on track for it because of how my grades looked and just knowing that there was something there to recognize that at the end of the journey was just a little extra point of motivation," said Nwobodo. "Having that in my future, something that was a possibility, I think, motivated me to continue trying as hard as I could," said Gimelshteyn. "It was definitely an exciting realization that if I put the work in, this could be beneficial to earn." The district's statement went on to say: "Combined with the fact that fewer college admissions offices consider class rank when evaluating potential candidates, it was determined that this outdated practice did not align with our Core Values of teaching all students, rather than ranking and sorting them. We remain dedicated to assessing students on what they know and supporting them as they pursue their Pathway of Purpose." However, Gimelshteyn believes the honor is important when applying to hyper-competitive colleges. "Having that title, I think, is really like a good indicator to colleges that you're, you know, willing to work hard," said Gimelshteyn. "It shows that you're a good candidate." "I feel like it does matter, even if the title itself isn't something that they look at. Having the GPA required to get the award is something that is important to colleges. So, if there's not a reason for students to try and achieve that, then there may be less opportunities for them," said Nwobodo. In 2022, a letter sent to parents from the district's high school principals read: "While we continue to find ways to decrease the angst so many students face on a day-to-day basis, this is one more way we can take away unnecessary pressure." "I think we had a community of helping each other. I really don't think that there was at any point us trying to push each other down or get ahead of each other," Gimelshteyn. "It was a way that we can all lift each other up to help each other more." The district has now removed class ranks. Schools instead will recognize other accomplishments and other honors like grade point average and advanced placement classes. "How I view it is just robbing people of recognition for what they've done up to that point," said Nwobodo. "I also feel like having the valedictorian award, there is an extra factor for motivating them to continue to excel in the path that they've chosen." "Being able to take away the title of valedictorian shows people that, oh, if you're not valedictorian, then you failed, and I think that's completely incorrect," said Tejawijaya. "As I've gone through high school, I've still strived for that GPA and that ranking of being number one out of however many students. But I realize, we won't get the same recognition as they did, even if we put in the same amount of work." CBS Colorado also reached out to local universities and colleges regarding the impact of being a valedictorian when submitting college applications. In a statement from Healther Daniels, CSU Executive Director of Admissions: "We consider a wide range of factors when reviewing applications. Our goal is to assess each student's potential for success at the University by looking at their academic record, coursework, extracurricular involvement, and more. While being named Valedictorian is a notable achievement, it is not a specific factor in our admissions decisions. CSU is deeply committed to removing barriers to higher education and simplifying what can sometimes feel like a complex application process. As part of our land-grant mission, we remain focused on expanding access to a world-class education for all students with the talent and desire to attend college. To further support this commitment, CSU offers free applications every day for students who currently live in Colorado or attend school in the state — waiving the application fee entirely."
CNA
04-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
From rejection to reinvention: Some fresh graduates, retrenched workers find their way out despite sluggish job market
For many fresh graduates today, landing a job right out of university may feel like a pipe dream given the tough labour market. Mr Dylan Sim, 26, who graduated as a valedictorian from the National University of Singapore (NUS) with a degree in Southeast Asian Studies in June last year, had expected to secure full-time employment within four months. But nearly a year after graduation, he found himself still hunting for a job, having already encountered 'countless rejections, failed interviews and even an offer being rescinded'. 'Looking back, it was wishful thinking,' he told CNA TODAY. Mr Sim said he initially thought his good grades and varied internship background – including roles as a financial adviser, a jewellery marketing intern and even a cocktail bartender at a famous bar – would easily open doors to his preferred industries, finance or consulting. Recalling one of the lowest points in his job search, he found himself feeling worthless and unwanted, as if nobody saw any value in him, even after sending out more than 100 applications. 'It was quite jarring because of all the academic accolades I received and the effort I put into my work. I thought those grades would automatically translate to employability, even if it's in a different field.' Mr Sim said that part of the challenge was that many of the companies he applied to simply did not respond, leaving him unsure whether the vacancies they had advertised were truly available, or if he had just not met the job requirements. 'The whole fresh grad job application process feels like shooting in the dark. I went four to five months without meeting a single person," he added. 'Sometimes I'd take tests or complete HireVue interviews, only to get rejected three months later,' he said, referring to video interviews recorded on the applicant's own time without a live interviewer. The setbacks in his job hunt forced Mr Sim to recalibrate his expectations and approach, focusing on clearly communicating his value to prospective employers and prioritising learning over chasing salaries and company branding. Nearly a year after graduation, he finally landed a client-facing advisory role at a human resource (HR) technology consultancy he discovered through MyCareersFuture, a job site developed by government agency Workforce Singapore in collaboration with GovTech Singapore. At 34, Ms Sheryl Avery Tham faced a different kind of challenge. After nearly five years of managing communications for a crypto solutions company, she was retrenched in October last year. After the layoff, she began applying for roles in high-tech and crypto industries, aiming for lateral moves that aligned with her decade of experience in communications. However, despite her strong credentials, she often found herself ghosted, automatically rejected or told that she was 'too expensive'. 'It's this weird paradox where your experience becomes a liability,' she said. 'Employers want someone who can hit the ground running, yet they don't want to pay for the expertise that enables that.' Eventually, Ms Tham decided to pursue an idea that she had long contemplated – she is now an entrepreneur and will launch her wellness studio in September. Her experience and Mr Sim's are becoming increasingly common in today's job market, both in Singapore and elsewhere, which has been shaken by geopolitical volatility, rapid technological changes and disruptive trends such as gig work and contract roles. HR experts and career coaches told CNA TODAY that second-act careers – shifts from traditional paths to more fulfilling or passion-driven work – are becoming increasingly common as a result. While Singapore's overall unemployment rate has remained relatively low at around 2 per cent, other numbers hint at a labour market under pressure. The 2024 Joint Autonomous Universities Graduate Employment Survey found that a higher proportion of graduates remained jobless six months after leaving school than in previous years. Of the 12,500 fresh graduates in the labour force polled, 87.1 per cent were employed within six months of completing their final examinations, dropping from 89.6 per cent in 2023 and 93.8 per cent in 2022. Although Singapore still has more job vacancies than jobseekers – 1.64 vacancies per unemployed person as of the first quarter of this year – employers are becoming more cautious and selective in today's hiring climate. The 2025 ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey showed that only 43 per cent of employers in Singapore plan to increase headcount in the coming quarter, down from 46 per cent in late 2024. Experts said that there are ways to adapt to this challenging landscape. Alternative careers, as well as upskilling and reskilling pathways – such as freelance work and career transition programmes – are increasingly mainstream and highly valued by employers. This is reflected in the success stories of recent graduates and retrenched workers who have overcome periods of joblessness and a challenging job market. CNA TODAY takes a look at the strategies they used to turn things around. STRUGGLES AND BREAKTHROUGHS 1. SEEKING HELP FROM MENTORS AND CAREER COACHES What really changed the game for recent graduate Muhammad Nabil Asyraf Rustam, 26, was reaching out for support when his job search stalled. After graduating with a master of science degree in bioinformatics from the University of Melbourne in December 2024, Mr Nabil recognised that he lacked practical experience. So he took on an internship at a science and technology agency from January to April, while simultaneously applying for full-time roles. After sending out more than 80 applications, all he got was silence. 'By the time my internship ended, I was feeling anxious. It was frustrating not to get calls despite all the effort I had put into my studies and internship.' His turning point came when he approached NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) for help. He was matched with a career coach who helped him sharpen his resume, update his coding portfolio and practise for interviews. 'I was mass-applying for jobs with the same resume and it was not getting me the response I was hoping for, so the coach worked closely with me to tailor my resume summary to each job description,' Mr Nabil said, adding that this made a real difference. 'I learned to examine each job description closely and incorporate relevant keywords into my resume, particularly within the skills section. I also revamped my career objective section to include the 'who, what and why', making it much more specific to the job I was targeting.' For job interviews, one key advice his coach gave him was to 'wear the employer's hat', which meant truly thinking about what the employer was looking for in a candidate who could help the organisation. The reflection on how his skills could fill the gap worked. Shortly after their first coaching session, Mr Nabil landed his first interview, which turned into an offer. He is now working as a bioinformatics specialist in the healthcare industry. Another recent graduate, Ms Delaney Chu, 25, had a similar breakthrough in her job search after reaching out to a trusted mentor from her alma mater, the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). Like many of her peers, Ms Chu entered the job market with tempered expectations, but still found the process emotionally draining. 'The rejections hurt, but it hurt more when you had invested in the interview process, had hopes and then got rejected,' she said, recalling rounds of online IQ and EQ tests, long waits and, in some cases, offers that came in at the lowest end of the salary range. It was her mentor's support that helped steady her. 'She offered both technical tips, like looking at my resume and suggesting things to highlight, but more importantly, she reminded me to believe in myself,' Ms Chu said. In the end, she received multiple job offers and chose a public sector communications role that felt like the right fit for her. 2. STARTING A BUSINESS And then there were those such as Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) graduate Cheryl Tan, 23, who later decided to lean into her entrepreneurial instincts instead of waiting for the 'dream job' to appear. After getting a bachelor of business degree in hospitality and tourism management in 2022 – when the tourism and events sectors were still reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic – she said she kept her expectations realistic, knowing that many companies were cautious about hiring and salaries were below market rate. "The job search was tedious because there were limited event-related roles available at the time. And many openings were contract positions that offered little long-term security." Instead of waiting for a job to land some day, Ms Tan decided to grow her side business, Happy Lens, into a viable service. Launched in 2019 when she was still a student, the business offering affordable event services to students stemmed from an idea she had nurtured since her polytechnic days. Before the launch, Ms Tan spent hours learning about logistics and operations through blogs and tutorials, eventually launching packages priced to fit tighter student budgets. 'Back in polytechnic, I was organising student camps and noticed that many event companies were charging way more than students could afford,' she said. 'That sparked the idea – I realised that if I could purchase the essential logistics myself and learn how to manage the operations, I could offer similar services at a much more competitive and student-friendly rate.' Ms Tan said the business gave her a creative outlet and a sense of purpose during a time when full-time opportunities were uncertain. She eventually found a job when the events industry recovered and she now balances her business with a full-time role as the head of events at an event management agency. REINVENTION AFTER RETRENCHMENT In a turbulent job market, retrenchment is not always the end of a career – it can be the start of a new chapter. Like Ms Tan the fresh graduate, the lack of clear opportunities gave some retrenched workers the nudge they needed to venture into the world of entrepreneurship – whether by deliberate choice or by serendipity. Ms Tham who was laid off from a crypto firm said that the retrenchment came at a time when she was already grappling with burnout and she began exploring in the wellness sector through small experiments. 'I started working the front desk at a yoga studio in March and it was eye-opening. People crave calm, intentional spaces to reconnect with themselves.' The experience led her to take the leap into entrepreneurship, co-founding The Palm – a pilates, yoga and wellness studio – with several partners and investors. Ms Tham acknowledged that the privilege she had – a healthy severance package, stock options from her previous employer and no dependents – provided her with a safety net, so that she could experiment. 'If not now, then when? I didn't want to look back with regret about not taking this leap of faith while I was … not shackled to a corporate job." Mr Joe Herman, in his 40s, embarked on a similar journey after getting laid off from his role in a marketing agency in 2018 and going through a demoralising job search. After sending out around 50 applications with no outcome, he realised that something was not working. 'I had worked across many industries – hospitality, tech, automotive, even journalism – but employers wanted someone with a clear, linear career path, which was tough for mid-career switchers like me.' This led him to take his own leap of faith. 'Honestly, I got tired of trying to be someone else just to land a job. I kept thinking – why not build something around who I am and what I'm good at?' That thought became the foundation for his own business – a training and communications consultancy launched in June 2018. Things were not immediately rosy when he became his own boss – they were just as brutal with cold pitches, no responses and self-doubt. Then, things shifted when he changed his approach. Instead of purely pitching to clients, he started listening and engaging with them to learn more about their needs. A father of two, Mr Herman now juggles his business with parenting, having redefined his idea of career success. 'I could work with people I genuinely liked, focus on projects I cared about and still be there for my kids. It wasn't easy, but it felt right.' As for Mr Jarieul Wong, 41, the opportunity to start his own business came unexpectedly after he was retrenched from his role as head of communications at an e-commerce firm in December 2022. What followed were months of exhausting job hunting. Financial concerns loomed, especially with his late mother's medical needs at the time, and the pressure from his family to find a 'proper job' intensified. Mr Wong, who is not married, said: 'I was drawing quite a high salary in my previous job and that became a problem. In some interviews, the main question was, 'How much of a pay cut are you willing to take'?' He recalled that some jobs would have required him to take a cut of as much as 25 per cent to 30 per cent. 'Initially, I was firm about not wanting a pay cut, but after months of searching, my stance started to soften. I suspected some employers were hesitant to hire me because they feared I'd leave the moment a higher-paying opportunity came along.' His break finally came when a Malaysian public relations agency he had previously worked with proposed opening a Singapore office and asked him to lead it. In September 2023, he took the plunge and launched the Singapore branch of Communications. It has not been easy because he did not draw a salary for much of last year and now runs the business solo, but the job satisfaction justified his decision. 'I get to work from home, care for my ageing dog and pitch for clients I believe in.' 1. RESKILLING TO STAY RELEVANT Other jobseekers found renewed purpose in entirely different industries, often after significant periods of uncertainty and reflection. For Mr Mohamed Yatim Abdul Ghani, 54, the transition from head of information technology (IT) at an international school to adjunct lecturer and digital transformation consultant was not immediate – it took him three to four years, lots of effort and a deliberate push to upskill in emerging fields. He was retrenched in 2018 after a departmental restructure. Although he had sensed it coming, the emotional and financial impact hit hard, especially when he lost tuition benefits for his four children who attended the same international school. To make ends meet, he became a private-hire car driver for nearly two years. As job applications went unanswered and household bills mounted, he began to notice that most roles in the technology industry now required skills in artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics or Internet of Things (IoT) – fields that were emerging buzzwords when he was working in IT. 'My experience looked dated. I realised I had to reskill.' Mr Yatim enrolled in SIT's postgraduate certificate in data engineering and smart factory in July 2021, attending classes for eight months alongside younger students. Then, a chance encounter at a job fair with a consulting firm offering technology consulting services led to a contract opportunity – and later, a fractional role as an associate senior consultant, where he helped to translate complex technical solutions into understandable terms for clients. Today, Mr Yatim balances part-time consulting with adjunct lecturing roles at various educational institutes – a flexible arrangement that allows him to manage his time while staying up to date with industry trends. 2. TAKING UP A TEMPORARY ROLE Ms S Bavadhareeni, 27, was laid off from her role in an integrated communications agency in June last year. She gained a foothold in a completely different sector – higher education – by taking a chance on a temporary role. After applying for nearly 400 jobs and facing constant rejections, she came across a contract role at a business school as a student liaison officer and was later hired to cover a staff member who was on maternity leave for four months. "I was unsure about taking it on because the idea of covering for someone on maternity leave felt unstable, especially in an already uncertain job market,' she said. 'But I eventually saw it differently. What began as a four-month contract ending in February has since been extended through October, and I've had opportunities I wouldn't have had otherwise.' Ms Bavadhareeni, who is still working at the business school, said the temporary role gave her a chance to establish herself and prove her worth. 'Contract roles can really work in your favour, especially when you treat them as a runway to show what you're capable of.' "DON'T JUST KEEP SENDING RESUMES" In CNA TODAY's conversations with human resource experts, a common refrain was that, given the highly competitive job market, jobseekers can expect to face tougher scrutiny on their resumes. Flexibility – the willingness to take up contract roles, freelance work or reskill – has become essential, as traditional career paths are giving way to more varied and dynamic employment models, as seen in the experiences of Mr Yatim and Ms Bavadhareeni. Not all hope is lost. HR business partner Samantha Tan from Seek, an employment platform that owns brands such as Jobstreet and Jobsdb, noted that some businesses are growing and seeking new talent to support their expansion. Her company's 2025 Hiring, Compensation and Benefits report found that the industries that had greater hiring activity from the last quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2025 were: Banking and financial services Science and technology, information and communication Accounting Manufacturing, transport and logistics At the same time, certain entry-level segments are experiencing softer demand, with notable declines in sales, marketing, communications, as well as design and architecture. Therefore, entry-level jobseekers and fresh graduates need to be flexible and consider sectors with higher demand, Ms Tan added. As for jobseekers who 'spam' resumes hoping for callbacks, Ms Yvonne Teo stressed the importance of seeking feedback. The vice-president of HR for Asia Pacific at management services company ADP said: 'Don't just keep sending resumes. Tap your university career centre, mentors or industry professionals to improve your CV (curriculum vitae) and interview approach.' While internships may not be the first choice for jobseekers aiming for full-time roles, they can provide valuable experience and act as a stepping stone, she suggested. 'Many employers treat internships as part of their talent pipeline. If the opportunity is relevant (to you) and offers room to grow, it's better to take it than to hold out indefinitely. Long gaps (between jobs) can be harder to explain,' she said. 'While searching, upskilling through online courses, joining industry groups or working on personal projects can also help you stand out.' Ms Priscilla Pang, career coach at tech education firm General Assembly, said more fresh graduates are enrolling in bootcamps to build foundational technology and digital skills such as coding and data analytics to complement their non-tech backgrounds and stand out in a job market where companies are increasingly digital- and AI-first. 'Networking events are also a great way for jobseekers to make connections with industry peers and mentors, showcase their personal brand and improve interpersonal skills,' she added. For retrenched workers, Ms Alice Burks, director of people success at HR tech firm Deel, said that it is never too late to pivot and explore new opportunities. Second-act careers are becoming increasingly common, but they often require an open mindset and willingness to embrace change, she added. A good starting point is for these workers to identify their transferable skills that are valuable across industries and roles, whether in person or remote. These skills may be in project management, stakeholder communication or cross-functional collaboration. Mr Robin Ngan, director of SIT's lifelong learning division Sitlearn, said Singaporeans can leverage national support schemes such as the SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme or the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Package, which provides up to S$6,000 over six months to eligible individuals who are involuntarily unemployed and are actively looking for another job. Acknowledging the stigma attached to mid-career jobseekers – too expensive or overqualified – Mr Ngan said that such a perception poses a real hurdle, but it is not insurmountable. 'It is crucial for jobseekers to reframe the conversation and address employer concerns upfront, emphasising the focus on contributing value over prior salaries or titles. 'They should highlight their adaptability, cross-sector experience, transferable skills and ability to make immediate impact,' he proposed, adding that jobseekers should stay open to project-based or part-time arrangements. Fractional work can also be a viable pathway, he said. Under this model, professionals provide specialised expertise to several companies on a part-time or project basis, rather than committing to one full-time job. This was what Mr Yatim did as he was re-entering the workforce. Mr Ngan said: 'This model is gaining traction globally and in Singapore as companies increasingly value flexible, just-in-time access to experienced professionals without committing to full-time headcount costs.' At the same time, fractional workers can stay active, build new networks and contribute across sectors while maintaining flexible working arrangements, he added. One such worker is Mr Ivan Yeo, 41, who has turned to fractional work and a side-hustle business to stay afloat while continuing his search for a full-time job. After nearly a year as a tech company's regional sales manager for the Middle East and North Africa region, he was suddenly retrenched last November when his company exited that market. Mr Yeo, who is married with a two-year-old son and hires a live-in domestic worker, felt the financial strain, especially since he had recently undertaken a home renovation fully paid for in cash, leaving little room for unexpected setbacks. Thankfully, though, he had started a side business back in 2015 while working at a marine parts supplier firm during the oil and gas downturn. His custom building-block toy venture – offering ready-made collectables for fans, alongside personalised creations for individual and corporate clients – grew steadily and even hit six figures in sales during the pandemic period. This business is now keeping him afloat while he explores the opportunities available in the job market. Aside from his side hustle, Mr Yeo is working at a friend's startup as a certified recruitment agent – a role he trained for by taking a five-day course early last December, followed by a month of preparation before sitting for the examinations in mid-January. His friend runs a recruitment social enterprise focusing on senior professionals. 'I'm doing fractional work now for my friend's startup about two to three days a week, part-time,' he said, adding that it is a way to stay active, flexible and relevant without committing to a full-time role. In the long term, Mr Yeo is hoping to realise his dream of being an entrepreneur in the fast-moving consumer goods sector. 'I'd rather earn less working for something that I build for myself than chase a high salary in a role I don't enjoy. 'But for now, with a young child, I need stability. So a salaried role is still the way to go.'
Fast Company
25-06-2025
- General
- Fast Company
The value of ‘almost.' Why near misses can make or break you
Whether we like it or not, we live in a world that is ruthlessly optimized to reward results. Nonetheless, failure is a part of everyone's life—and an essential part of achievement in fields ranging from sports to science. In fact, high achievers are those who fail more often —not less—than the average person. They take more risks, go outside their comfort zone, set more challenging goals, and engage more frequently and vigorously in improving their performance—and this is how they succeed. You can't lose if you never play—you also can't win. Runner-up But what about coming in second? Is there value to the 'near miss'—to being so close to a win, but falling short? In education, being salutatorian is impressive. But it still means you miss out on the valedictory speech and its attendant scholarship. A high spot on the university waitig list rarely becomes an enrollment offer. In careers, the runner-up performer might earn a congratulatory email but not the promotion or hefty salary increase; the second-best job interview candidate gets little consolation from knowing they almost received a job offer but are still unemployed. Salespeople who hit 99% of their quota still forfeit the Hawaiian-vacation incentive and bonus. In research, the lab that publishes second loses the patent, the grant, and the headlines. And if you are the runner-up in a presidential election, there's at best a slim chance you can run again in the future, and your popularity may actually decrease after losing (in politics, this loser effect leads to a dip in confidence from voters, and there's often no time for a second chance). Near misses as opportunity And yet, near misses are not as disastrous as the above thought experiments suggest. Indeed, finishing a hair's breadth behind the winner still means you've outperformed almost everyone else—be they hundreds of classmates, thousands of job applicants, or an entire electorate. Moreover, the person who edges you out isn't necessarily better on merit alone —factors like political currents, privilege, or just plain luck can tip the scales. Perhaps most importantly, coming up just short can serve as a springboard for growth, offering the chance to learn, adapt, and come back stronger—provided you choose to seize it. Here's why: Lessons learned First, while everyone prefers success to failure, it is often easier to learn from failure than from success. Success tells you that you are great; it is the socially accepted way to provide you with positive feedback on your talents, reinforcing your self-belief, and inflating your ego. While this sounds great—and without much in the way of downside—success is also likely to generate complacency, overconfidence, and arrogance (it's much easier to stay humble in defeat). Conversely, failures are opportunities to learn, especially when you see them as learning experiments that provide you with critical feedback on your skills, choices, and behaviors. As Niels Bohr wisely noted, 'An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field.' In short, a near miss can act as an inherently, if brutally honest audit of your assumptions and strategies—uncovering blind spots that success tends to conceal. By forcing you—or at least inviting you—to diagnose exactly why you fell short, a near miss suggests you refine your mental models; rethink and tweak your tactics; and build new, better tested, decision-making muscles. Failing enthusiastically Second, failure increases the gap between your aspirational self (who you want to be) and your actual self (who you are, at least from a reputational standpoint). This uncomfortable psychological gap is only reduced through hard work, grit, and persistence, which together strengthen your chances of succeeding in the future. At the very least, they help you become a better version of yourself, even if you don't succeed in achieving a sought-after prize or goal. As Winston Churchill famously noted, 'Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.' Importantly, near misses can be a powerful form of failure precisely because they hurt the most. Being so close to a success can reaffirm your determination and reignite your ambition. Every extraordinary achiever (across fields) differs from others in one important way: they are less likely to be satisfied with their achievements. Indeed, the most common reason people fail to learn from failure is that they are too wounded or hurt by their lack of success, to the point that it extinguishes their drive. In contrast, extraordinary achievers will not give up or let go—even when their failures are hard to digest. This ambitious mindset helps them seek to understand the factors leading to their near misses without getting deflated or depressed by them. Instead, it makes them even hungrier for victory, resilient, and focused on bouncing back stronger. Emotionally resilient Third, the way you respond to any form of defeat or failure, and especially the painful near misses, sends a powerful signal to everyone around you—investors, bosses, or teammates—that you're emotionally mature, resilient, and coachable. Humans have a general tendency to attribute their successes to their own talents and merit, while blaming others, or situations, for their failures and misses. Avoiding this tendency makes you an exception to the norm. This will be noticed and will impress others. While resilience is largely a function of your personality (the more emotionally stable, extroverted, curious, agreeable, and especially conscientious you are, the more resilience you will show), we can all work to increase our resilience if we truly care about achieving our end goal, by becoming grittier and harnessing whatever mental toughness we have. When you dissect a near miss with curiosity and humility, you demonstrate a growth mindset that invites collaboration and sparks confidence in your potential. Visible resilience often earns more credibility (and resources) than a flawless run, because it shows you're willing to learn in public. Over time, people who witness your thoughtful rebound become your strongest advocates, eager to back the next iteration of your vision. Life, despite how it feels in disappointing moments, is not a final exam but a continuous assessment; what matters most is not brilliant one-off successes but reliable, steady, determined excellence. As Aristotle pointed out, 'We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.' Greater legacies To be sure, there's no shortage of prominent historical figures who confirm how near misses and other kinds of failures in their early career stages were poor indicators of their actual talent and potential but instead unfortunate or unlucky episodes, uncharacteristic of their brilliance. Consider Roger Federer: after six runner-up finishes on tour, he finally lifted Wimbledon's trophy in 2003 and would go on to amass 20 Grand Slam titles. The Netherlands of 1974, whose Total Football lost the final, rewrote soccer's playbook. J.K. Rowling, turned down by 12 publishers, went on to sell over 600 million Harry Potter copies. Barbara McClintock, whose 'jumping genes' work was ignored for decades, earned a 1983 Nobel Prize for the discovery. Meryl Streep, whose first Oscar nod in 1979 went unrewarded, has since racked up 21 nominations and 3 wins. The Beatles were rejected by Decca as 'yesterday's sound' before selling some 1.6 billion records. And Alibaba, once dwarfed by eBay in China, now serves over a billion annual active consumers. Each of these (and many other) examples provide evidence that near misses can herald even greater legacies. Ultimately, the sting of 'almost' is less a verdict on your potential than an invitation to hone it. Near misses aren't life sentences—they're signposts pointing to gaps in your strategy, fuel for your ambition, and a live demonstration of your character to the world. While it is tempting to ruminate about what could have or should have happened, the truth is we never know. We all indulge in counterfactual fantasies—those 'what if' spirals where we picture an alternate universe in which we married someone else, took the other job, or moved to that city. Psychologists call them sliding doors moments: innocuous-seeming forks in the road that, in hindsight, feel like cosmic turning points. But while it's human to ruminate, it's wiser to remember that we're not omniscient authors of our own lives. The illusion of total control is just that—an illusion. More often than not, the best way to recover from regret or disappointment is not by obsessing over the road not taken, but by taking a different road. Que será, será. Life is less about scripting your destiny than adapting to its plot twists. In other words, how you react to failure matters, but failure is too brutal and negative a word for simply not getting what you think you preferred or wanted, especially when it may not even be what you actually needed or ought to have preferred. When we embrace each narrow defeat as data, not destiny, we are able to build the very habits and resilience that turn 'almost' into subsequent undeniable success. As the saying goes, experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. We add that experience can be more valuable than the objective success of getting what you wanted. In fact, enjoyment of objectives successes including of awards and victories, tends to be more short-lived than we expect. We need not define ourselves by our past and present achievements. Who we are also comprises our future self, including our possible selves—the parts of our character and identity that are actually the only ones we can influence.
CTV News
25-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
‘It's really exciting': Hundreds of Winnipeggers finishing second shot at high school
Zoe McKay, 28, practices her valedictorian speech as she is set to graduate high school from the Winnipeg Adult Education Centre. June 24, 2025. (Daniel Halmarson/CTV News Winnipeg) Thousands of students are graduating from high schools across Manitoba this week, including 28-year-old Zoe McKay – the Winnipeg Adult Education Centre's (WAEC) Class of 2025 valedictorian. 'I think I would have probably laughed if you told me this would happen at some point,' McKay told CTV News on Tuesday. 'I'm kind of in disbelief. It's really exciting.' It's a big change for McKay, who dropped out of high school more than a decade ago. 'There was a lot going on that just made it really difficult to physically be there in school,' she explained. 'I wasn't able to make that a priority at the time, which was always a huge regret of mine.' She credits a relative for offering her a place to stay while she pursued a high school diploma over the past year. 'He told me the only criteria is you just have to really buckle down and focus on your education because he's always wanted to see that for me. He knew that it was a huge goal of mine as well.' McKay is among the approximately 150 WAEC students receiving their high school diploma during convocation Thursday. Many of her classmates are new to Canada after fleeing war-torn countries like Ukraine. Vladyslav Popenko moved to Canada in 2023 and although he finished secondary school in Ukraine, he needed to improve his English and finish grade 12 courses. 'Graduation will be the day I've been waiting for,' Popenko said. He plans on attending the University of Manitoba in the fall to pursue a degree in kinesiology. Other students, like Yohana Gebrekirstos and Robel Tesfatsion, moved to Canada from Eritrea over the past couple of years. Both have post-secondary education under their belts but recognized the importance of earning a Canadian high school diploma. 'It opens everything up – if you want to go to university, college, or if you want to work,' Tesfatsion said. WAEC principal Dino Di Fabrizio said mature students come from different backgrounds, circumstances and experiences, but he adds they all share a common goal. 'They come in with such great intentions on what they could potentially do. And it's inspirational watching them make this walk and take this journey,' Di Fabrizio told CTV News. The grads-to-be said returning to high school was intimidating at first, but the fear and stigma of being adult learners quickly faded away. 'I was so nervous. I had no idea what to expect. But it was amazing. I didn't realize what a supportive and multifaceted community they built on campus there,' McKay said. Yohana Gebrekirstos, who wants to become a nurse, encourages other adults to chase their educational dreams as well. 'After you take the first step, the other steps will just continue by themselves. So just take the first step,' Gebrekirstos said. 'Don't be scared of change,' McKay added. 'Change can give you the ability to transform your circumstances and take agency over your path going forward. Just jump into the great unknown and see what happens.'
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Muhlenberg High School graduate doesn't let sight impairment slow her down
Quinn Wagner remembers trying to answer the questions as an elementary school student, but not really knowing how. 'It was quite confusing growing up legally blind,' she said. 'People are curious about it. Other kids would ask me, 'How do you see?' — which is so hard for a 5-year-old to answer. 'My classmates would ask me why my eyes were closed, why I wasn't looking at them, and I didn't know how to explain it.' That's still a bit of a challenge for Wagner, even as an 18-year-old high school graduate. But she's dedicated to doing the best she can to help people understand. Wagner was born with cone-rod dystrophy, a genetic disorder that effects about one in every 30,000 people. The condition renders her color blind — she sees in only black, white and gray — makes her eyes sensitive to light and makes her struggle with depth perception. Without her glasses, she has 20/400 eyesight. 'That means what you should be able to see at 400 feet I can only see at 20 feet,' she explained. It would be reasonable to think the disorder would be an impediment for Wagner, a hurdle slowing her from achieving her dreams. But that's never been the case. 'My parents raised me to believe that if I want something to not let anything stand in my way,' she said. Wagner took that lesson to heart. Instead of struggling, she has thrived. She became an academic dynamo and recently graduated from Muhlenberg High School as valedictorian of her class. 'It's a big accomplishment because it showed all the work I put in was worth it,' she said of earning the honor. 'But it's not a defining moment. There's still so much to do.' That kind of mindset is what led Wagner to excel during her time at Muhlenberg. So did being creative and willing to adapt. She found ways to lessen the impact of her blindness, like using digital textbooks, a closed circuit television system, Braille, a special computer and large-print text books. 'My text books were absolutely giant,' she said with a laugh. In high school, she was able to use her cellphone in class, taking photos of what her teachers wrote on the board and blowing it up to a larger size that she could see. Wagner was drawn to math, science and engineering, saying she was always good with her hands and enjoyed solving problems. That led her to pursue a research project — one she would end up presenting at science fairs — aimed at finding viable alternatives for fossil fuels. Wagner said she was often overlooked when she shared her projects at science fairs, with some people questioning her abilities because of her blindness and being a woman in the traditionally male-dominated world of science and engineering. 'There are always negative people,' she said. 'There's always going to be people who don't think you can do something or don't believe in you, it comes from a lack of understanding.' Wagner said she is dedicated to overcoming that naivety and showing everyone that a visual impairment doesn't have to be a constraint. 'When you're born visually impaired you have to be very creative, you have to learn to adapt to your surroundings to be able to do everything that everyone else is doing,' she said. 'No one knows you better than yourself, no one knows your limits but yourself. I don't like to set limits at all because then there's a threshold for success.' Wagner will continue seeking success this fall at Cornell University. She has received a $10,000 scholarship from Lighthouse Guild in New York City to help cover the costs. She will study environmental engineering and perhaps minor in chemical engineering at Cornell. She said she plans to eventually seek a PhD in sustainable energy, work in research and teach. 'My goal is to pave a path in the STEM fields for anybody with a disability, and women as well,' she said. 'I've not always felt the field is inclusive, and I don't want other people to feel that way. 'I want people to know that they can do it. Just be creative and keep trying and eventually you'll prove people wrong.'
