What Does ‘Success’ Mean to Me as an Educator

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30 Sep 2025

6 Min Read

AP Dr Logendra Stanley Ponniah

IN THIS ARTICLE
AP Dr Logendra Stanley Ponniah

Contributed by AP Dr Logendra Stanley Ponniah, whose research focuses on STEM education, e-learning, and curriculum development. He can be reached at logendrastanley.ponniah@taylors.edu.my.

Success is a word we often use casually but rarely pause to question. For many, it is measured in grades, job titles, or material achievements. Yet as an educator, I believe success must be defined differently — not by predetermined benchmarks, but by the personal growth of each student.

 

True education is not about shaping learners into replicas of ourselves, nor about imposing inherited perspectives. Instead, it is about guiding them to make sense of the world through their own lens of inquiry, with the courage to question, discover, and imagine.

The Three Dimensions of Teaching

The first dimension of teaching is the realm of knowledge and information. Students must begin by building a solid foundation of facts, concepts, and frameworks. Without this grounding, their ability to engage meaningfully with any subject will be limited, as knowledge provides the essential building blocks for deeper understanding. Knowledge is not an end in itself, but it allows learners to see connections, recognise patterns, and develop the intellectual confidence to explore further.

 

The second dimension is skills and competencies. Education must empower students to take what they know and put it into practice. Critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, communication, and adaptability are no longer optional; they are essential for navigating both academic and real-world challenges. These competencies transform learning from a theoretical exercise into a lived experience, equipping students with tools that will remain relevant in an ever-changing future.

 

The third dimension, often overlooked, is disposition. This is about cultivating the values, curiosity, resilience, and ethical responsibility that shape how students approach not only their studies, but life itself. It is here that education becomes transformative. A student who learns to persist through difficulty, question with integrity, and act with compassion gains something far more enduring than any grade: the ability to face uncertainty with courage and purpose.

 

When these three dimensions are woven together, education ceases to be about outcomes alone. It becomes a practice of growth, discovery, and becoming.

Redefining Success for Students

If success is seen only as the attainment of an end goal, the learning journey loses much of its richness and meaning. When education is reduced to grades, rankings, or certificates, students often miss the deeper rewards of curiosity and discovery. That is why I encourage my students to view success not as a finish line, but as a process — one that involves engaging deeply with the act of learning itself, questioning ideas, exploring possibilities, and allowing themselves to grow with every step forward.

 

In this sense, success becomes less about perfection and more about perseverance. It means learning to embrace failure as an inevitable and valuable part of progress, recognising that mistakes are not setbacks but opportunities to refine understanding and build resilience. It also means shifting the focus from having the ‘right’ answer to cultivating the courage to ask better, more thoughtful questions.

A Call to the Next Generation

For those considering a path in education, whether as a teacher, researcher, or leader, this is an invitation to be part of something larger than yourself. Studying education equips you not just with knowledge of pedagogy, but with the power to shape how society understands success, resilience, and belonging.

 

To the next generation of educators, I say: success is not about following a script. It is about writing one that empowers others. In doing so, you play a role not only in shaping individual lives but in carrying forward the aspirations of Malaysia itself.

Turn your passion for helping others into a purpose. With a Bachelor of Education, you’ll gain the skills to inspire, guide, and make a real difference in young lives..

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