Testimonial

Second Chances and New Skills: How Dennis Found Direction Through eduCLaaS

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For many students, the path after high school is a predictable sequence, get the grades, enroll in university, find a job, build a future. But for Dennis Low Zhi Hong, that traditional route didn’t quite fit him. His story isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about navigating through uncertainty with resilience, exploring new possibilities, and embracing growth, even when the destination is still unclear.
 
This is Dennis’ journey of rediscovery and transformation, one step at a time.
Sports First, Studies Second: A Different Kind of Student
Dennis grew up in Penang, Malaysia, and like many kids, he found his identity through passion, not academics. From a young age, sports became his outlet and his anchor. While classmates studied late into the night, Dennis was training on the ping pong table, pushing him to be one of the best. And it paid off. Before the pandemic, he was ranked among the top ten in Penang for table tennis.
 
But academics were never his strong suit.
 
“In high school, my results weren’t great, so I focused on sports,” he recalls.
 
Ping pong wasn’t just a hobby, it was a dream for him. One that gave him purpose and confidence during a time when nothing else seemed to click.
 
Then came the pandemic.
 
When Malaysia entered lockdown during the Movement Control Order (MCO), everything came to a halt. Tournaments were canceled. Training centers shut down. Isolation replaced momentum. And just like that, the dream he had chased for years slipped out of reach.
 
Without sports, Dennis faced a different challenge: figuring out what came next.
The Search for Something More
After finishing high school, Dennis enrolled in an engineering program. It was a logical next step, but almost immediately, he knew something wasn’t right.
 
The hands-on technical work wasn’t the problem, but the environment was. Long days in a small factory, surrounded by the sharp scent of chemicals and noisy machinery, quickly made him question his decision.
 
“I didn’t like the factory work or the smell. It felt dangerous,” he says. “It didn’t feel like something I could see myself doing long-term.”
 
Next, he tried sales. For three months, he worked in a customer-facing role, trying to develop people skills and push himself out of his comfort zone. But the constant interaction with strangers didn’t suit his personality.
 
It was becoming clear that Dennis wasn’t just looking for a job, he was looking for something more. Something that felt meaningful. For months, he was stuck in limbo. Not knowing what path to take, and feeling the pressure of falling behind while others moved forward.
 
That was when a friend introduced him to eduCLaaS.
A Second Chance with eduCLaaS
Dennis didn’t know what to expect. He had never heard of eduCLaaS before and was skeptical at first. But when he found out that the program didn’t require high academic results to apply, and that it focused on real skills over paper scores, he saw a door open.
 
“I was still figuring things out when I heard about eduCLaaS. They didn’t need any academic requirements. It felt like a second chance.”
 
He enrolled in the Digital Business track. The program blended learning with work experience, allowing students to build skills through actual projects, not just theory. For Dennis, this hands-on structure made all the difference.
 
But the transition wasn’t easy.
 
At first, he struggled with language and confidence. Answering questions in class, understanding the assignments, and keeping up with deadlines all became stress points. There were times when he wanted to give up. But something kept him going.
 
As the weeks passed, he began learning new tools, like Canva, Hotspot, and campaign creation. He started thinking like a digital marketer, not just a student. The biggest shift, however, was internal.
 
“I learned discipline. I had to manage my time, meet deadlines, and hold myself accountable. That was new for me.”
 
From someone who once avoided academics, Dennis was now becoming someone who showed up for his responsibilities, even when it was hard.
Becoming an Apprentice: Learning on the Job
After completing the foundational bootcamp, Dennis stepped into an apprenticeship as a marketing associate. This marked a new chapter.
 
Under the guidance of mentors and team leads, Dennis supported real campaigns, created social media content, and contributed to collaborative projects. He wasn’t just watching how things were done, he was doing them.
 
It was challenging. But it was also energizing. With each task, he became more aware of what he was capable of. The fear of “not knowing what to do” slowly turned into confidence in figuring things out along the way.
 
For now, Dennis is focused on practical growth, gaining real-world experience, building financial independence, and creating a future filled with freedom and opportunity.
 
“Why spend more time in school if I can learn and earn at the same time? I want to work, travel, and explore the world.”
Still Figuring It Out—And That’s Okay
Dennis doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. He’s still shaping his goals, weighing options, and figuring out who he wants to become. But what sets him apart is his openness to try, to adapt, and to start over when needed.
 
What once felt like failure, dropping out of engineering, quitting sales, he now sees as necessary steps toward clarity. He knows not everyone’s journey will look the same, and he wants others to know that’s okay.
 
“Know what you want in life. If you don’t know yet, take time to think. Don’t do things you’ll regret, do what feels right, even if it’s different from others.”

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Looking Ahead: A Work in Progress
Today, Dennis is still learning, still growing, and still moving forward. His journey may not have followed the traditional script, but that’s exactly what makes it powerful. He’s living proof that you don’t need perfect grades, a perfect plan, or even perfect confidence to make something of your life.
 
What you need is the courage to try, the willingness to learn, and the openness to take a different path.
 
And sometimes, that makes all the difference.
 
Want to explore a hands-on learning journey like Dennis?
Because the path that fits you best might be the one you haven’t tried yet.