goodbye job!
been a while since i blogged. thought i'd better post something before i lose my already-very-small base of readers completely.
it's 2 more weeks before i finally kiss goodbye to civil service after 6 years of trying to convince myself that i would be happy being in this conventional, boring job. becos of my impending departure from the job, people have been coming forth to tell me how lucky i am, how much they hate their jobs but are not able to leave to do what they want. most of my colleagues are government scholars, you see, contractually bound to serve a 6-year bond with the civil service. i would think people who are unsatisfied must be those whose work/talent/skills are not recognised by their bosses, who see little potential in advancing far in their careers in the civil service. But over drinks one night, someone, who is well-liked by the bosses and doing very well, told me that she thinks the job is meaningless and wished she can leave and move into the arts industry.
the ARTS?? in Singapore?? i said there's no money in the arts. esp in Singapore. which was what an architect friend told me point blank when i said i was interested in studying design - "don't go into arts/architecture/design." but i headed in anyways, to do a degree in landscape architecture. now i find myself telling others the same thing, don't go into the arts. i think it is something to do with the moth mentality, knowing that you'll get burned by the fire but can't help getting drawn into it and you want to warn everyone else not to get into it.
but i don't regret it, really. the many sleepless nights, tearing the hair out when there's no inspiration, working on tight deadlines. it is all worth it when i produce work that i m satisfied with and that is appreciated. when people ask me what are my plans after i complete the degree, i say, i don't know. there's a realist in me that tells me i can't live without bread & butter. i can't go on forever working over sleepless nights if it doesnt put money on the table. I will just enjoy my studies for now and decide which step to take next when the time comes.
anyways, i don't know why so many people have been asking me what are my plans after my work contract ends. i wonder if it is a singaporean thing, to probe into other people's personal life. questions like, why wasnt my contract renewed, so what do i plan to do after my contract ends, when am i searching for another job, blah blah blah... it bores me talking about it and i didnt think it necessary for anyone to know what my plans are anyways, cos really, it is my life and i live it the way i want it.
it's 2 more weeks before i finally kiss goodbye to civil service after 6 years of trying to convince myself that i would be happy being in this conventional, boring job. becos of my impending departure from the job, people have been coming forth to tell me how lucky i am, how much they hate their jobs but are not able to leave to do what they want. most of my colleagues are government scholars, you see, contractually bound to serve a 6-year bond with the civil service. i would think people who are unsatisfied must be those whose work/talent/skills are not recognised by their bosses, who see little potential in advancing far in their careers in the civil service. But over drinks one night, someone, who is well-liked by the bosses and doing very well, told me that she thinks the job is meaningless and wished she can leave and move into the arts industry.
the ARTS?? in Singapore?? i said there's no money in the arts. esp in Singapore. which was what an architect friend told me point blank when i said i was interested in studying design - "don't go into arts/architecture/design." but i headed in anyways, to do a degree in landscape architecture. now i find myself telling others the same thing, don't go into the arts. i think it is something to do with the moth mentality, knowing that you'll get burned by the fire but can't help getting drawn into it and you want to warn everyone else not to get into it.
but i don't regret it, really. the many sleepless nights, tearing the hair out when there's no inspiration, working on tight deadlines. it is all worth it when i produce work that i m satisfied with and that is appreciated. when people ask me what are my plans after i complete the degree, i say, i don't know. there's a realist in me that tells me i can't live without bread & butter. i can't go on forever working over sleepless nights if it doesnt put money on the table. I will just enjoy my studies for now and decide which step to take next when the time comes.
anyways, i don't know why so many people have been asking me what are my plans after my work contract ends. i wonder if it is a singaporean thing, to probe into other people's personal life. questions like, why wasnt my contract renewed, so what do i plan to do after my contract ends, when am i searching for another job, blah blah blah... it bores me talking about it and i didnt think it necessary for anyone to know what my plans are anyways, cos really, it is my life and i live it the way i want it.
posted by nan at 2:08 AM
9 Comments:
Go for anything u want to do!
Well...... erm.. Easier said than done, i know.. I have been thru such shitty situations whereby I have basically no idea what to do, or Wat SHLD i do....
Well, tat's life! And I think that's the reason why we only live life ONCE. Cos having been thru it once, I think I won't want to come back again liao!!.. Hahahah!!!!
hey girl! this is a topic close to my heart so I just had to respond. The minute I was allowed to throw away my science books at the end of Sec Two, I pursued pure arts all the way right through university. I chose to do some very looked-down-upon subjects that are probably the most uneconomically viable topics ever. I don't regret it at all, because I was doing something I loved.
So to all those Singaporeans out there who are trying to choose between a 'money-making' degree and something they love, choose the latter.
Trust me, during exams when you're revising a subject you love, you'll be the envy of your schoolmates who are studying something they hate.
You'll also have the dual benefit of not only getting the paper qualification (which is still important in Singapore), but also enjoy the process of getting it.
You'll find that in the general job market, your degree's subject of specialty isn't really important anyway, because employers are looking for experience and passion. The degree is just a paper formality to get you to the interview. (I'm talking about non-professional jobs here of course, doctors and lawyers don't apply!)
ooh.... i didnt see that coming. i understand what you mean by all the questions you get when you are about to leave your current job, i got it last year. but i don't think it's a singaporean thing, it's more of a human nature thing? but if the person starts telling you 'eeyeer, why do this and why do that?' i'll help you to stare at the person. :)
that's right, i m enjoying my frivolous, 'non-money-making' degree now, finally doing something i really wanted to do.
lc, i get irritated when pple i hardly know ask me all those inane questions as if they have anything to do with my life. i ve formulated some vacuous answers for such pple:
1. no plans. (and watch person's jaw drop and moment of awkward silence as the small talk ends abruptly)
2. take a break. (usual reaction for this is widened eyes, like they can't believe me leaving the job for something as frivolous as taking a break and then they try to say something to justify that i deserved the break blah blah blah.. as if i needed any justification, those fools)
3. buy a stall and sell mee pok. (i havent used this before. i shall use it on the next victim and i ll try to say it with a straight face with all seriousness)
ooh.... maybe this sunday?? i would like to see you pull that off. maybe i can give you some support too. hahah
Heh, I would love to see you use "mee pok" answer. =)
But then again, nan, I agree with lc. It's not a Singaporean thing -- quite in character for everyone to ask this. Although I must say that Singaporeans, in general, don't take well to someone saying that they're taking a break or doing something seemingly "unproductive".
And yes, I must say that I was quite surprised about that colleague who's well-liked by bosses and who's doing well. Didn't expect that she'd be unhappy with her job. =)
You're the man Dawg!
Way to go girl!
You is doin the right thing.
i know of someone who quite her high flying private banker job to start a cafe... failed... picked herself up again... did photography, suffered and worked he A** off for a while but now, it's all paying off.
I always believe, if there is something you long to do, do it. Don't 40 years down the road regret and say, why didn't I do it?
thank you dear....
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