How To Become The Next Lee Kuan Yew?

LKY started his education at Telok Kurau Primary School and moved to Raffles Institution for his secondary education. Brilliant at a young age - LKY still had some reservations, being in Raffles Institution exposed him to Singapore's creme dela creme and that floored him. 

As an Arts student, studying English is a compulsory and since he had plans of studying Law later on, he concentrated in improving his command of the English language to aid him on his endeavors. Math and Economics always hold his interest, he excelled but to his horror he came only second (2nd) place - always beaten by Miss Kwa Geok Choo - his arch-academic school rival. Who later on would soon become Mrs. Lee Kuan Yew.

At the end of school term he became the Top Graduate for Singapore and Malaysia in the Senior Cambridge examination held in 1940. As recognition he received the prestigious Anderson Scholarship, an award given by Raffles Institution to the region’s brightest student. He then pursued to study Law.

During World War II's outbreak, Lee had plans to study in Cambridge but later on delayed his plans as the Japanese attacked the British to route them in Singapore, the Brits occupied Singapore from 1942 to 1945. The young Lee can only improvise at that time to survive, he had to study Japanese to in order for him to get a job to become English language editor of the Japanese Hodobu (Japanese Propaganda publication).

After the war, LKY continued his studies at the Fitzwilliam College an affiliate of the University of Cambridge. While in London he said in one interview that, “It changed the course of my life because in London I would have gone bonkers – the noise, the bustle and so on. I was a small town boy landed in this big city. But in Cambridge, there were bicycles all around. The town was there to cater to the students, at that time, 10,000 students. It was a very placid, serene society. It encouraged academic pursuits. Of course you got the drama clubs and debating societies, but on the whole it’s a quiet place. If you want any excitement you go down to London." LKY graduated with prized Double Starred First Class honours. A rare recognition to receive.

And the rest as they say is part of history. We can't change what we have by birth but we certainly can control whatever comes our way.