How to pick the most successful person from your graduating class?

As I was added more friends to my facebook account, I was rather shocked and surprised to see some of my friends in different era of my life doing something totally unexpected. I'm sure some of you had this kind of thinking whenever you go for those class reunion. I think the earlier on in life, the bigger will be the shock factor. You might have known this friend of yours in primary school who is the average typical guy, but boomz, after several years, he's a professor at xyz university teaching physics, specializing in nanotechnology. Then, there is the prince to pauper stories, those who did very well academically but didn't translate to much success in real life.



I'm not saying these people do not deserve whatever bright future they have ahead of them. It's just not expected of them, given the kind of attitude and characteristics that they had shown when I've known them. Okay, I admit, maybe a tinge of jealousy too. Makes me wonder what others would think of me.



So, if you have to pick the most successful person in your graduating class, how do you pick it?

1. Academic success

I doubt this is THE defining factor. There are those who are good in studies and not much good in life. Actually from what I see, it seems like those who didn't do too well in school have a greater 'shock' factor when it comes to working life. I've no evidence, just from what I've observed and I am aware of the data bias that comes with observing with my two jealousy tinted viewpoints.

2. Looks

I think in terms of looks, those who are generally better looking are usually more successful. At the bare minimum, there is an unequal headstart for them. Looks are depreciating assets, so I think if you have good looks, you must learn to convert it to something more permanent and lasting before it all goes away. Try looking for a rich spouse or charm your way up where it's naturally well defended.

3. Height

Those who are taller seems to be more successful, especially for guys. Hmm, on the contrary, I think it works reverse for girls. Again, it's just based on my observations. Perhaps for guys, it makes them more prominent and thus recognizable? For girls, at least in Singapore, I know if they are taller than average guys, it's hard for them to get married. Don't blame me, I don't come up with the social rules.

4. Personality

Generally, those who are quieter are not too successful. Okay, perhaps that's why the studious top 1% of the class are generally not doing too well. The more talkative, the more 'people-oriented' kind of personality, to me, is the best indicator of success. From the many students I've seen, I've already singled out a few such people. If they land themselves in the correct job scope, I think they will excel pretty well. But talk is one aspect, one must do also. All talk and no do kind of people will obviously not fare better than less boisterous people will actually do what they set out to do.

How to choose a nice kitten out of a basket?

5. Family background

Again, this offers an unequal headstart in life that you can't help but wonder why it doesn't happen to you. Needless to say, those who have a better family background will have access to a lot of things that pushes their children up ahead so fast that it's hard to catch up. Just a fact of life.

6. Luck

Can't see this coming until it happens...sometimes the blind hand of fortuna gives and sometimes she takes. Luck plays a very important role in successful. Forget about skill. With bad luck, a skillful person will even lose to a lucky beginner. But I believe we can engineer and attract good luck with both positive attitude and good preparation. Luck is attracted by people who are hardworking, I really believe so.



The funny thing is that all these changes as we grow and nothing is really fixed in stone. I guess it depends on whether you believe in predestined life or a life where you control your fate. The two are not mutually exclusive of course. Hmm, after talking at length, I'm still none the wiser on how to pick the most successful person from your graduating class...anyone have any stories to share? haha :)