After 5 years in the petrochemical industry, I made a shocking (to many) switch to become a teacher, or more precisely a lecturer in NYP. For those we know me since school, they would have known how I used to dislike teaching. Even when my sister and brother-in-law became one in JC, I was unfazed. Giving tuition during my schooling days were purely for monetary gains and never for interest or satisfaction.My ex-colleagues got a shock, my ex-boss got a shock. And of course, my parents and my close friends. After all, I am those typical Chemical Engineer, who always advocate technical reasoning, and believed in getting into the money-making oil and gas industries. For prestige, for self-satisfaction and for monetary gains to repay loans and support the family.
During the last 3 days of NYP Open House, I was overwhelmed by the streams of students and parents eagerly looking for a course with career prospects and bright future. They reminded me of how I used to be lost student thinking about my future career. One parent was so candidly telling me how she did not want to see her son engage in some profession which is "dangerous" like in a refinery or oil company. "I only got one son, you know. He is my baby" she jokingly said. "So how dangerous is it working in chemical industry?" I was positively amused and touched by her tone and concerns the whole while.
I appreciate the parents asking me these relevant questions. My parents used to discouraged me from joining the chemical industry as well. As an engineer, male or female, working under the sun is almost guaranteed. You cannot have vertigo, or how else can you conquer the 80m distillation column by monkey ladder? Also, be prepared to sweat, get dirty and work in a male dominant industry where females can be sometimes prejudiced.
I find it rather ironic, when I was encouraging O level leavers to take up a course in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Technology when I myself just got out of the industry. After all, there are many females worked in the chemical industry for years and rose to respectable positions, taking up jobs which people once thought only men can. So why can't I do the same? And enjoy the fat bonuses and increments which people from the outside world can only imagine.
Many things had happened in the last 3 years which gave a brand new perspective in life and priorities. Spending more quality time with family and love ones are now my first priority. I can still remember clearly how I used to go home like listless soul, with workload almost burying me alive. I have no time with family, with friends and for myself. My health worsened, I grew haggard and I cared for nothing else but company's profits generation.
In the end at Open House, I encouraged the worried mum to let her son choose something which interests him and not whether or not the course can guarantee him in the future. I conveniently skipped the topic of how dangerous the industry is, as I know I cannot give her satisfactory answer without telling a white lie.
How do you stay sane in this ever changing world? Your decision may not make sense to many, but, life is a path that only you yourself can decide. Only then, you will be happy.
