COMMENT | I started work as a journalist two decades ago at a local English newspaper (it was The Sun, if you were wondering).

My first editor, Yeoh Guan Jin, along with my hiring editor, Oon Yeoh, had hired me knowing full well that I didn’t have a degree in journalism or mass communications. But they really didn’t care about that.

In fact, they hired me at the end of my last semester of studying for a degree in accountancy.

On the day my results were released, I requested for a day off and Guan Jin approved it and jokingly uttered, "you already have a job that you like. Why even bother about your degree? It’s not like you’re going to be balancing out any financial statements".

It is true. I really didn’t bother much about my degree. I mean, going to university was a very valuable experience, but a degree is just that - a degree.

For the record, I did graduate, by the way, and with honours. Although all that degree is good for now is that I can complete my income tax declaration efficiently every year!

Many people in the world do not have degrees and many have never been defined by it.

There are countless degree-less people who are very financially successful, have satisfying careers and, most importantly, are good human beings.

There are also countless of degree holders who are not financially successful, don’t have satisfying careers, and most unfortunately, are not good human beings...