This Monday, my HR Manager Angela Fong shared some good news.

Two of our colleagues received outstanding university awards!

🏆 Miz. Best University Student.
🏆 Yaashi. Best Faculty Student.

Both with GPA above 3.9 ++!

Wah! I was genuinely surprised.
I congratulated them and offered to buy lunch the next day.

Then I remembered.

We have another two colleagues, Doris and Farina, also with GPA 3.9+.

So I invited all four.
Four academic superstars.

During McDonald’s lunch, I asked them something.

“Eh, you all study until GPA 3.9+. Got any life besides studying or not?”

Because during my days in Zaman dulu, we called these people … NERDS! 😂

Thick glasses.
Messy hair.
Shirt buttoned until the neck.
Three pens in the pocket.

Social life? Almost zero.

Their biggest heartbreak?
“OH NO! I ONLY SCORED 98 MARKS!” 😭

Me?

I still remember passing a few ACCA papers with exactly 50 marks.
NGAM NGAM PASS!

But looking at these four young ladies sitting in front of me.

Normal hairstyle.
Normal clothes.
Normal conversation.
They even know how to laugh!

Wah! Nerds have undergone a major software upgrade over the last 30 years! 😂

All four insisted they have normal lives.
Friends, hobbies, entertainment.

Just like you and me.
Only difference?
They score 98 and feel disappointed.

Then I asked a more serious question.
“With GPA 3.9+, why did you choose KTP?”

After all, we are a small accounting firm in Johor Bahru.

Surely Big 4, MNCs and larger corporations would be interested in these academic superstars?

One said she wanted to learn AI.

Then admitted her GPA 3.9+ friend had also encouraged her to join.

Another said it was DESTINY 缘份.

Then came Farina.
She had previously worked in a law firm.
I asked why she joined KTP.

Her answer?
“Because KTP was the only firm that accepted me.”

WHAT?! 😂
I almost choked on my McDonald’s!

But jokes aside.

I am genuinely proud to have these four young talents at KTP.
Actually I might just be a very lucky boss! 😂

And Farina?

Sometimes, all someone needs is one company willing to give them an opportunity.

I am glad KTP was that company