There’s always that one colleague in every office, the one who thinks your academic results are still relevant years after graduation.
For one Malaysian woman, a regular day at work turned unexpectedly sour when her officemate decided to humiliate her over her SPM results, right in front of others.
Humiliated over her grades
In a post shared on Threads, the woman described how a casual conversation suddenly turned uncomfortable, all because of a question about her SPM results.
“How many A’s did you get for SPM?” the staff member asked.
“Alhamdulillah, none, kak. But I passed,” she replied honestly.
That simple answer quickly triggered a string of unnecessary and hurtful remarks. The colleague, instead of moving on, pointed toward a group of MRSM students nearby and chose to shame her publicly.
“Eee, you’re such a shame. Right in front of these MRSM students!”
Things escalated further when the staff member brought the woman’s parents into the picture, claiming their efforts were wasted because she didn’t get any A’s.
You just wasted your parents’ money. They worked so hard, and you didn’t even get an A.”
Still, the woman remained calm and responded with grace.
It’s okay, kak. What matters is I’m alive and have a job.”
Unfortunately, that didn’t stop the colleague from ending the exchange with a final jab:
You’re still an embarrassment.”
What matters more is your attitude & ethics
After her story was shared online, Malaysians didn’t hold back in showing their support. Many resonated with her experience and shared their own stories of being judged unfairly based on grades.
One user revealed they attended a top school in Kelantan and felt similar judgment from peers after receiving less-than-stellar SPM results. But today, they are thriving in their career.
“SPM can make life easier if you excel at it, but it’s not everything. What matters more is your attitude and ethics.”
Others pointed out that grades don’t guarantee success, and working alongside high-achieving students proves that point.
“Even MRSM students end up in the same office as me with no A’s. So I guess I’m doing just fine.”
‘They only helped you get into uni. After that, nobody cares’
Several commenters also reflected on how much weight society continues to place on academic results, even long after school is over.
One person shared a nugget of wisdom from their university days:
“Whatever results you got, 10A’s or 10E’s, leave them at the gate. They only helped you get into uni. After that, nobody cares.”
Some didn’t hold back and gave suggestions on what the woman could have said in return:
“I may not have any A’s, but at least I have manners and don’t put others down.”
And of course, salary comparisons made their way into the conversation too:
“Ask her how many K’s she earns now. Because in school, people look at your A’s. But once you start working, people care about your income.”
It’s time we move on from SPM
While SPM results can play a role in opening doors early in life, they don’t define a person’s worth or future. What truly matters is how you carry yourself, treat others, and keep going even when you’re looked down on.
And sometimes, the best clapback is simply continuing to live your life with dignity.
As one commenter put it best:
“We can’t argue with people who still live in the past.”
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