32: What do I want to be when I grow up

Welcome to Woman Leadership show. I'm Janet and in this episode, I will be sharing with you what was my childhood dream. 

I wanted to be a princess when I was young, beautiful and be saved by charming prince who can sweep off my feet and lived happily after so I loved to play and pretend to be princess in school and at home living in my fantasy that one day a prince in white horse saved me from the provision shop that I was staying and go to faraway place where we lived heavily after with no worries. 

One day, my teacher asked us what would we want to be when we grew up. I said to be a teacher because I saw how my primary school grades have improved because of my primary school teacher who was there for me and encouraged me to unlease my potential and did well in PSLE and subsequently in secondary school. I thought I would be failure but I could make it to A student. 

I loved to teach my cousins and would give little stickers for good work and mark their work. I also helped my classmates who are weak and help them to copy questions and got them to practice Maths questions. During those days, I don’t have copier machine at home but I will copy. At the same time, I became so familiar with questions and workings that I was being selected to participate in school maths competition. 

After I completed my A levels, I was contemplating if to go to National Institute of Education since my A level results were not good enough to go to local university. My relatives told my mum that I would not be suitable to be teacher as I did not would not have patience with children and students. Though I did not agree about my patience part but I did not pursue the teaching profession and went on to study private diploma and degree. 
Never did I expect that I would embark adult training in the corporate world and later on scale up from audience of about 10 persons in the room to 1000 in the townhall. I conducted various soft skills and leadership programs not only in Singapore but across APAC and Global on online platform. 

Takeaway
We may be so occupied with our roles and responsibilities with regard to our job, family that we forgot about our dreams. I forgot about my childhood dreams till my mentor Genecia asked me what was the childhood dream that I been wanted and that was to do what I love sharing with others around the world. Now this is possible not only limit to offline but also online. Now with this coronovirus, this will be even possible for online. Even my child’s tuition has now change to online. 

When we enjoyed what we do, we will find ways to improve. I joined Toastmasters and setup the club with one of the companies I worked. When we enjoyed what we do and able to monetize it, we do not need to work but enjoy what we are doing and get paid. 

When we want to do something or embark on a new path or dream, there will be more people pulling us down with all the negative comments just like what my aunty did asking me not to be teacher. However, if we like what we do, go after our dreams. What is the worst can happen? We can start all over again , start afresh and learn from mistakes. 

I hope that through my sharing, it draws inspiration and personal reflection for you. I believe every woman can be a leader in your own way. I look forward to seeing you in my next episode where I will be sharing with you tips and ways to realize your full potential as a leader on Woman Leadership.