Mark Sin Pursues Balance and Principle Across Continents
- Unique Wisdom
- May 21, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 14, 2025
Having lived across multiple states in the USA, Mark Sin learned that dreams are shaped not just by big milestones, but by daily choices and quiet perseverance. His story invites us to see that the rainbow ride isn’t reserved for grand moments—it’s woven through the everyday steps we take with purpose.
Choosing Exploration Over Expectation and Building Community Across Borders
When I grew up in Singapore, I was a little afraid I wouldn’t make the right, prescribed path. The right path included going to the Express Stream, surviving National Service, and getting into university.
As part of my English class, our teacher asked each of us to grade one another’s essays. My classmate wrote an essay titled, "Why I Would Want to Study in the US?" It spoke of broader pastures and exploration.
It was an inspiration to try to live my dreams instead of following the prescribed path. I applied for and got into universities in the US. I got internships and then full-time positions, doing the things I enjoy.
Broader pastures and exploration also extended back to Singapore. With groups of passionate Singaporeans, we created and nurtured Singaporean communities through events that bonded us, engaged with the local community, and in all these interactions, I’ve seen that the world is indeed both small and big, similar and different, in many ways.
Balancing Principle and Perspective While Walking a Self-Defined Path
Sometimes, being put down is the best motivator. It was being told at a presentation that without 2 S Papers, I wouldn’t be able to join the standard scholarship route, and I might as well leave the room and move along.
Moving abroad as a student and being very motivated to journey beyond the prescribed path of 2 S Papers, scholarships, and such, and just following my dreams, made for a more meaningful and innately "me" journey.
The most important mindsets that come back to me throughout are balance and principle.
By far and large, live up to and do things by principle. If you say you’ll do it, do it. But keep balance in mind.
Not everyone sees things the same way you do. Not everything needs to be done as intensively as you might want to. Put yourself in their shoes too. Be mindful of how you can appear if you overly fixate on principle without giving others a way to save face. And do pay heed to things others say you should be aware of, even if you yourself don’t find them as much of an issue.
By combining balance and principle, you can have your direction and be more powerful in your work, society, and life.
Similarly, balance how you see milestones. Some will be internal—only these matter to you—but do celebrate them. Some will be external accolades—you may not even have wanted them—but do reflect that these are needed. And be even mindful that some people care more about external accolades than what matters internally. Your principles may not be others’ as well.
Pursuing What’s Difficult, Impactful, and Worth Doing
An inspirational phrase I’ve encountered quite recently but that makes sense is, "Do what is difficult, but not impossible."
When you face setbacks because of unexpected difficulties, see if what you’re trying to do is actually beyond difficult—if it’s impossible.
When things seem too easy and you don’t get a challenge or joy, consider upping the bar if you sense an opportunity for both personal fulfillment and a betterment to society from your efforts.
What is most rewarding is when you solve difficult things that benefit people other than yourself. Then it’s not just about a personal journey that you feel rewarded by—it’s an even greater sense of accomplishment that you made a difference to others.
Navigating Life with Awareness, Strengths, and Strategic Understanding
Read widely, talk to people of different backgrounds, and find out your strengths and weaknesses. Arm yourself with knowledge, and never resort to anger. Calibrate your responses and approaches. Know your options, your rights, and craft your support.
Life is about meshing other people, you, and matter. People have thoughts, emotions, concerns, tips, and knowledge. They can be your best allies or your worst enemies. Your health, both physical and mental, is everything that makes you, you.
Matter doesn’t think or have emotion. It reacts in ways you can understand and predict through the laws of physics, chemistry, and so on.
The more you understand other people, yourself, and the world around you, the more in tune you are with going with the flow where it makes sense and striking your position where it also makes sense.
When you know your strengths and weaknesses, you know more about what is relatively easy for you to do but not for others. This is a comparative advantage. Take it. Conversely, you know what many others can do better than you. That is what you need to avoid putting yourself in a position where your weakness is not an asset.
Be aware and make your journey happier by focusing on your strengths and keeping your weaknesses at bay.
Stay Connected
You can watch my story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIJruKYdrOw..