I was in a shop today, waiting in line, when I saw a young boy accidentally knock over a small display of snacks. It wasn’t anything major—just one of those little moments that happen when someone isn’t paying full attention.
But before he could even bend down to pick them up, his mother snapped at him.
“That’s why you recently failed your O-Level exams!” she shouted.
The entire shop went silent for a moment. The boy’s face fell instantly, his hands stiff at his sides. He looked around quickly, as if checking to see how many people had heard. I could see the shame settle into his posture.
I don’t usually interfere in other people’s parenting, but something about this moment made me pause.
I caught up with the mother a few minutes later, away from the crowd. I gently asked if I could have a quick conversation with her.
“Mhamha, can I ask something? Do you think tripping over those snacks has anything to do with school performance?”
She hesitated, then let out a small, tired laugh.
“Ah, it’s just frustrating, you know. I don’t know what to do anymore. He failed, and I don’t want him to fail at life.”
And I understood. I really did. Parents worry. They see the world getting tougher, opportunities slipping away, and they panic. But in that moment, I asked her something I hope she remembers:
“What if failing O-Levels doesn’t mean failure in life? What if your child’s intelligence just isn’t the kind that gets straight A’s on an exam paper? What if he excels in something else entirely?”
Because here’s the thing—intelligence is not just about passing school. There are 8 different types of intelligence, and schools only test a handful of them.
What if that child is naturally gifted at something completely outside of academics? What if he is an artist, an entrepreneur in the making, or someone with incredible social intelligence?
Not every child is an A-student, but every child is gifted in their own way.
I shared a few examples with her. People who struggled in school but went on to do incredible things. Richard Branson, who struggled with dyslexia but built Virgin Group. Albert Einstein, who was thought to be slow as a child. Even some local entrepreneurs who barely passed their O-Levels but now run successful businesses.
I don’t know if my words changed her mind. But I do know this: words spoken in frustration have power. That child will remember what was said today. And if he hears it often enough, he might start believing it.
So, here’s my appeal to parents, teachers, and guardians: be careful with your words.
One exam does not determine a child’s entire future. Intelligence shows up in different ways, and success has more than one path.
If your child didn’t pass O-Levels, take a breath. Maybe their genius isn’t in textbooks but in business, leadership, problem-solving, creativity, or working with their hands.
Guide them. Support them. But don’t define them by one result.
Because sometimes, the children we call “failures” today are the ones who build empires tomorrow.