Choosing between financial security and a more meaningful life is rarely straightforward, especially when family time is involved.
A 26-year-old Malaysian has sparked an online discussion after revealing that she is considering leaving her RM7,000 corporate job to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher and spend more time with her aging mother.
Corporate life no longer feels meaningful
Taking to Threads, the woman shared that she had lost motivation at work and was struggling with frequent late night calls.
Despite earning RM7,000 a month, she said her job no longer felt meaningful and admitted that she could no longer cope with the corporate lifestyle.
Every day when I go to work, I feel like a six-year-old being forced to attend school.”
However, she has yet to secure another job and acknowledged that finding employment in the current market is difficult.
This left her wondering whether she should resign now or continue working for several more years to build a larger financial safety net.
Has around RM120,000 in savings
According to the woman, she currently has approximately RM120,000 in savings.
If she remains in her job, she plans to save RM3,000 every month, along with her bonuses, to reach an annual savings target of RM40,000.
Her ultimate goal is to accumulate RM250,000 before resigning and returning to her hometown to begin a new chapter.
She also revealed that she is single and has relatively few financial commitments. She bought a RM200,000 Rumah Madani unit that is still under construction, with monthly payments of around RM900.
She drives her late father’s old car and pays RM170 monthly towards her PTPTN loan.
Still, she questioned whether RM250,000 would be enough to leave corporate life behind and start over in her hometown.
Dreams of becoming a teacher
Rather than remaining in a career she finds unfulfilling solely for the salary, the woman hopes to complete a Diploma Pascasiswazah Pendidikan, commonly known as DPLI, and become a teacher.
She said she enjoys being around children and wants a career with a stronger sense of purpose.
I want a job with purpose, like educating the children of our nation. Corporate life is just not for me. I am only staying because I need the money.”
She wondered whether pursuing the life she truly wanted would be the right decision or whether taking such a risk could leave her with regrets.
Wants more time with her 70-year-old mother
Beyond her career aspirations, another major reason behind her dilemma is her mother.
The woman said she had lived away from her parents since she was 13 years old, initially moving to another state to study. She later continued living away from home while completing her degree.
At 22, she lost her father to Covid while undergoing an internship. As taking leave was difficult at the time, she rarely had the chance to see him before his passing.
What if I don’t have much time left with my mother? Corporate work takes away so much of my time with my family.”
Her post resonated with many online, highlighting a dilemma faced by young working adults who must choose between a stable income, personal fulfilment and precious time with their loved ones.
