I am graduating soon and I am lost. Every person I ask tells me not to do whatever they are doing.
A doctor tells me not to be a doctor because of the working hours and residency slavery.
A police officer tells me not to be one because of the long and super elastic working hours, the politics in government offices and the mountains of government paperwork.
A teacher tells me not to be a teacher because of the never-ending paperwork, marking, planning, promotion politics, parent complaints and behavioural issues.
An engineer tells me not to be an engineer because of the long and super elastic working hours, the supervisor problems, the on-site problems, communication problems with foreign workers and terrible pay.
A cook tells me not to join the kitchen because of the long working hours, the heat, the rough environment and peanuts pay.
An admin executive tells me not to join the desk-bound force because of the boring paperwork, the endless calls and emails, the endless customer service and the need to consistently doll up to impress or be prepared to have people talk behind your back on your “terrible” dress sense. Not to mention the “har?? you are only an admin ah. Aiya poly also can do. Nothing one lah. No skill also can do. The degree is just for show. Whatever you are doing can learn on the job. Pay now and bad increment.”
A lawyer tells me not to enter the legal scene because of the super high stress, endless paperwork and dark trade secrets.
A musician tells me not to go on stage because of the peanuts pay, lack of respect because…you are just a musician right?! What do you do ?! That’s what they said.
An analyst tells me not to be an analyst because of the endless data search, data sorting, data analysis report writing, presentation..”the amount of data analysis reports expected of you will make you cry. Be prepared to burn both Sat and Sun.”
It seems to me that every job is bad. Every job has long hours, mountains of paperwork and high stress which their wages HARDLY and POORLY justify. Even for lawyers and doctors, for the amount of work and skyhigh god-like morale they are expected to uphold.
So why do we think that other people’s jobs are easier than ours???
Which path should I persue? Every path seems to have naysayers. For me, I want to be a chef and I can already hear what others will say about it.
Maybe I should just cook at home, for my friends and family. But even so, I plan to persue a culinary diploma and degree. Not because I need the certs to be a chef…even if I dont become a chef, I wanna make my cooking serious. I wanna learn the best practices. If I dont become a chef, what career is good