China: A 31-year-old Chinese Psychiatrist and PhD researcher changed her career to enjoy her life. Liu Zihan delivers food, sings at pubs, sells breakfast and explores a variety of part-time jobs after she left her job at a Grade 3A hospital in Zhuhai, China.
Liu Zihan was the perfect example of an asian prodigy; she grew up in a “meritocratic” environment and lived in one of China’s most competitive provinces, Hebei, which is part of northern China.
Liu studied for a year at Hengshui High School, which is also nationally known for military-style discipline. She got admission into a medical school at Sichuan University and eventually got her doctorate degree at University of Macau’s Faculty of Health Sciences.
Liu was 27 when she got her doctorate and also secured a job at a prestigious hospital in Zhuhai, China.
According to reports, Liu was loved by her patients and even received thank-you notes from them after their treatment. She said that she liked to have genuine connections with her patients.
However, Liu eventually realised that she did not feel satisfied with the kind of hectic and demanding lifestyle that she was leading because of her work expectations. She did not like the conventional work environment as well as the compulsion of sticking to the same schedule everyday.
Liu said it took her two years to make up her mind to resign from her job.
According to the South China Morning Post, she said that earning a PhD degree can guarantee anyone a job and a good salary, but she realised that she did not want to live the rigid corporate life.
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Liu travelled to a lot of places right after she resigned; she then sold breakfast and sang at a pub. She formed a very strong bond with a group of friends who worked at restaurants, pubs and other food stalls, mainly jobs that are considered unconventional.
She said she found optimism, happiness and peace with these people.
She got to learn many new things from her new friends. While she was working at varied part-time jobs, she felt at ease and relieved not to have to plan her next day or pre-decide her monthly expenditure and earnings.
Liu is also working part-time as a therapist, but she has not constrained herself with the medical job and continues to explore other areas of life.
According to the reports, she mentioned that she was in awe of how kind and helpful the gig worker community is.
In her interview with SCMP, she said, “Delivery riders share traffic updates, and pub singers and stall owners look out for each other. In comparison to grades and competition, there are far more significant values, like care and support.”
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Liu’s parents are very proud of her PhD credentials; however, they were initially a little puzzled by her new career choices. Liu said her parents are gradually understanding her decisions and supporting her in pursuing the life she wants.
Liu dreams of someday hosting her own concert and having a small backyard where she can play with her cat.
(Rh/ARC)