Student Stories

Receiving my O-Level results feels like ages ago, but what came after was harder than any exam. I dropped out of a local polytechnic with a 0.67 GPA. If you’ve ever felt like you failed or messed up your future – trust me, I’ve been there. 

With no clear path, I took a part-time retail sales job. I was constantly bullied at work, and it felt like they were looking down on me because I only had an O-Level qualification. I realised I couldn't let that be a reason to be looked down upon for the rest of my life. That misery became my turning point, and I decided I had to get a qualification and start with a fresh mindset. 

After hearing about a friend’s experience in private education, I started researching and came across PSB Academy. The reviews and courses stood out to me, so I decided to enrol. It felt like a tactical choice – to invest in myself and build the future I wanted. 

I didn't waste any time. I enrolled in the full-time Certificate in Business Management in January 2024. In 6 months, I had finished my Certificate and immediately moved onto the full-time Diploma in Business Administration, and finally graduating in August 2025.  

Throughout my time at PSB Academy, my proudest memory was just before our accounting exam during the Certificate programme. Three days before the exam, 11 classmates came to me for help after failing their practice tests. I spent the next three days tutoring them – about 12 hours each day. When results were released, everyone scored at least a B, and most with As. That experience showed me I could lead, teach, and make a real difference. 

The lessons at PSB Academy were practical and directly applicable. The accounting modules in the Diploma taught me how to manage my finances better, which including setting aside money for a bachelor's degree in the future. I also learnt marketing frameworks that helped me understand how strategy and creativity come together. Encouraged by everything I’d learnt, I self-sourced an internship during my final semester to apply my skills. 

The guidance I received from my lecturer, Ms Linda Tan, was invaluable. She shared how to think critically about digital marketing and website design, even pointing me to real-world examples like Agoda’s site. That advice pushed me to keep improving. 

I used what I learnt in class to create an Excel accounting system for my company’s sales team and redesign parts of their website. I also improved their outreach emails through A/B testing, to help the team attract more customers. Not long after, I was promoted to Sales and Marketing Associate, right before being called up for National Service (NS).  

The whole experience from enrolling to helping my classmates do well in their exams, to using what I learnt in the real-world, to getting promoted, changed my mindset.  

From the defeated mindset of someone who dropped out of poly, I entered NS with a Diploma and the confidence of someone finally in control of his own future.  

My goal now is to climb the corporate ladder and eventually explore entrepreneurship. 

If you’re getting your O-Level results, or if the traditional route didn’t work out, remember that you can always make one day your day one. PSB Academy gave me a clear progression path, completing both my certificate and diploma in just 1.5 years. It allows me to start working earlier (after NS) and to move closer to the goals I once thought were out of reach.