I was engrossed when I read about how an average Singaporean could start a successful business with only two things: hard work and innovation ("Home-made repellent now a hit product"; Monday).

The fact that Mr Theodore Khng was trained in accountancy surprised me.

It showed me that you do not need to have a certificate to prove that you are capable of doing something.

Mr Khng failed 68 times, but persisted and finally succeeded in making a product with all-natural ingredients that his peers could trust.

Stories like this are motivational and truly inspire young people like me to believe in what we do and to persist in times of difficulty.

Ooi Po Yee, 16, Secondary 4 student