Sure, there’s a section with awards and recognition, but I also think it’s important to talk about the things that didn’t work out. The stuff I didn’t get, the jobs that fell through, the dreams I had to shelf. Turns out, those were the moments that shaped everything.

My failure to get any government scholarships

If you grew up in Malaysia, you’ll get this. I’m Chinese Malaysian, which meant there was a very slim chance of success when it came to most government scholarships. Despite decent grades and a clear plan, I had a dream school picked out since I was 14, but I kept getting rejected because Malaysia practises race-based policies in its education system.

So I ended up in the local public university system, which I honestly hated. It felt like everything I didn’t want, but weirdly, it led me to creativity. And I don’t say that in a “one door closes, another opens” kind of way. It was messy and unplanned, but it’s how I got here.

My failure to convert into a full-time position

I got into copywriting during uni, mostly by accident. I didn’t get the course I wanted, and the job market made it worse, most roles asked for a matching degree (like, marketing grads only in marketing roles).

I eventually landed a contract gig as a chatbot writer at an IT company. It was meant to last 1.5 years, with a possible conversion to full-time. I worked hard, but by the time the contract ended, they didn’t have a role for me.

I panicked. Then pivoted. That so-called dead end led me to my first real role as a copywriter at a marketing agency. Suddenly, I was writing for AMOREPACIFIC, Disney Studios, The Macallan. Not bad for someone whose career started with a chatbot named Neo.

My failure to move to Singapore

I’d been trying to move to Singapore for years. Most of my friends were there, and I wanted something better, for myself, for my family. But every time I got close, the offer would fall apart. Or I’d get lowballed.

I kept trying. Reworked my CV a hundred times. Kept applying, kept pushing.

Then in 2022, I finally got an offer from a Singaporean company. But, the CEO decided to keep me in Malaysia.

I was frustrated. Tired. But that same year, I got headhunted by a Korean company. They went the full mile, got my visa sorted, flew me over, and gave me a shot.

Now I’m based in Seoul. I’ve worked with creatives from all over the world, helped build a brand from scratch, and seen my words printed on a product in stores. I even won a few awards along the way. Not bad for someone who once just wanted to leave.

So yeah—three failures.

Each one felt like a loss at the time. But they ended up pushing me forward in ways I didn’t expect. Appreciate you reading all the way through. You deserve a trophy. Or at least a good snack.