You are letting your weakness overshadow
you.
If you wanna let your weakness sink in and determine your life, go
ahead, because what you are doing is, psychologically speaking,
self-fulfilling prophesy.
Say if you can't make it academically, fine - you should use more
of the time you have to make it in this world because this world is
technically your university, regarding the things you learn. The
thirst for learning, improving, evolving and leveling up doesn't
NOT only apply only to academic studies. It applies to your career,
what you want to do with your life and how you want to shape your
destiny.
One example I can give you is Mark Lee - he got no
paper cert, typical ah-beng-ah-beng kind and he married a
decent-looking loving wife.
Of course, there are more real life example WHOM will tell you
otherwise, which will fuel your current thinking even more, in a
negative way. My stand is very simple: do you neccessary have to be
what is happening to others? (Or becoming part of the statistic?)
Can't you be the exception? Can't THIS is the movitation for you to
attempt more than just 'hard' to excel in your life?
If you are merely contented, or lack the aggressiveness to change
your path of destiny, then you will end up whatever you think you
will be. You got to be street-smart/EQ, not IQ smart to success in
life. If I was you, being a cook for nine years (without paper
cert), I would spend these nine years to:
I) Build contacts.
II) Plan what you need to escape the fate of being a mere junior
cook. You got to strive upwards.
III) Constant lookout for opportunity.
You got to work upwards and not be stangant - thinking that your
job only revolves around 8-5 or similar AND merely working during
that time. Or if your job is pretty mundane/mono, resist the idea
of learning other things that could be related to cooking. No, it
shouldn't be because you into 'society university' and the minute
you resign to fate and be contended, you have sealed your own
destiny.
THIS IS THE QUALITY THAT A MAN EXUDE AND MAKES HIM CHARMING AND
WANTING - character. (In mandarin, it is known as Ge Xing)
If you don't have looks... fine. No paper... fine. Not born rich...
fine. But if you also don't have that personality and character,
you have nothing, even if you have the above three. 
Cheers
