You often hear the phrase “Follow your dreams”, but how many Singapreans actually have the bravery to do so? This article depicts the story of Jean, a millennial who made a huge decision to switch careers to pursue her aspirations.
Written by Nursyahirah | Photos Courtesy of Jean Loh
Jean Loh was 27 years old when she first realised she lost satisfaction in her job. As a former employee in the food and beverage industry, she came to the realisation that she was not doing anything else in her life aside from just cooking. She climbed the “corporate ladder” and was given a management position. Her daily work routine changed drastically. She had to handle finance and admin matters. She reached a point where she felt unfulfilled. Hence, she set the intention of pursuing further education.
Her Passion
Jean has always been passionate about the elderly. “ My grandmother has dementia and I’ve spent the last few years caring for her.” This sparked her passion in healthcare. Initially, she was worried about making the switch from a full-time employee to a full-time student. However, she began looking into study scholarships. She was also worried as it had been close to 10 years since she had last studied. Nonetheless, she was pushed to pursue her dreams by her partner, EC, who was her greatest support. Jean’s family members were not as supportive of her decision initially. Her father was concerned that she would get emotionally attached to her patients. But Jean stuck firmly to her decision. She stated that, “ I don’t care who supports me or doesn’t, as long as EC supports me.”
A New Adventure
Thus began Jean's venture into the healthcare industry. As a nursing student, her routine includes classes and practicals, and going out to different hospitals for clinicals. Her job scope mainly centres around elderly people, and she performs limited procedures such as taking the patient’s vitals, bathing and feeding patients, as well as supervised procedures such as putting on a urinary catheter and dressing the patient’s wounds.
“On my first or second day, I wanted to drop out. I could not even navigate Blackboard.” The school’s main online learning platform’s interface was challenging for her to navigate at first due to her lack of knowledge in the tech-savvy. However, with the guidance of her classmates, she was able to better navigate the technological aspects. Additionally, she does find patient care taxing due to its long hours. The income is also significantly lesser. However, she believes that the short-term sacrifice will result in a stable income for her future.
In the Long Run
Jean’s self-esteem was boosted when she went back to studying. She used to think lowly of herself, but now, after going back to study, she realises, she has the potential to achieve so much more. She also came to the realisation that she is an independent worker, and often takes the initiative during her attachments without the need of the clinical instructor to “hand-feed” her. “I think I’ve been doing alright.” she says with a smile.
Her advice to others seeking to do the same, is to just take the plunge. She advises to look into scholarship or sponsorship options to ensure financial security before making the decision. “ Changing career directions was the best decision I have ever made.”