During my time at NUS, I secured a scholarship with a 2-year bond to my current company. As I approach the one-year mark in fulfilling this commitment, I find myself grappling with the decision to terminate the bond, despite the associated penalty fee of approximately $20k. The past year has been marked by challenging days, anxiety, and a realization that the field of work I’m in may not be the right fit for me. Despite the healthy work environment (colleagues are great and friendly), I’ve struggled to comprehend my tasks, observing others effortlessly grasping concepts that elude me.
In addition to my full-time job, which includes occasional overtime, I’ve embarked on a side hustle—teaching. I use my after-work hours and weekends to teaching, my total work commitment amounts to around 60 hours per week. While tutoring has its challenges, especially when students are uncooperative, I don’t regret my decision. Teaching brings me genuine happiness and a profound sense of purpose derived from helping my students.
My contemplation to terminate the bond stems from several considerations. Firstly, tutoring lacks the stability of a conventional job, and there are no CPF benefits. Secondly, I worry about potential difficulties securing a full-time position in the future due to a lack of industry experience. I am seeking advice on how to navigate this situation and make a well-informed decision about whether to continue with my current job or pursue a path that aligns more closely with my passion for teaching.
As I approach the decision-making point, I acknowledge that in the coming year, I’ll still be engaged in my side hustle, and I’m concerned about my ability to cope.
I would like to seek advice on how to navigate this situation and make a well-informed decision about whether to continue with my current job.