At some point, most of us have looked around and wondered, “Am I falling behind?”
Especially when we see peers climbing the corporate ladder, buying property, or checking off milestones society expects by a certain age.
It’s a feeling that hits even harder when you’ve done everything “right”, got the grades, earned the degree, and chased the dream.
But for one Malaysian woman, reality turned out to be very different and she didn’t shy away from sharing it.
From scholar to street vendor
In a TikTok video posted by @izzati.is_, the woman is seen frying squid at a roadside food stall, believed to be her own.
Alongside the clip, she opened up about her personal journey, one that resonated with thousands online.
Despite being a Public Service Department (JPA) scholarship holder and a Chemistry graduate from a local university, she revealed that she’s now 30 years old and still doesn’t have a career aligned with her studies.
Already in my 30s. A Chemistry degree holder with a JPA scholarship but no career. Not good at business but trying my luck. Now a street vendor, does that mean I failed?” she wrote in the video.
Rather than waiting around for the “ideal” job, she decided to take matters into her own hands by starting a food business despite having no prior experience in entrepreneurship.
It’s believed that she currently runs a mee sotong (squid noodle) stall in Pongsu Seribu, Kepala Batas, Penang.
Her honesty sparked a wave of support
The video quickly went viral, with netizens flooding the comments to show their support. Many could relate to the dissonance between academic achievement and real-world job opportunities, and praised her courage for choosing a different path.
One user shared their own story, proving that her situation is far from uncommon:
“Chill la sis, I’m a PhD holder and JPA scholar. No job. Just tutoring and part-time lecturing. In the end, I also ended up selling food. Education is for the soul, not a license to make a living”
Another wrote:
“I graduated in electrical power. JPA scholar too. Eventually, I sold grilled chicken. Started small using an oven at home now I have a shop and 33 food trucks.”
While the woman initially questioned if her journey could be seen as a failure, many reminded her that success isn’t limited to having a high-paying job or a fancy title.
One commenter put it best:
“These days, you really can’t judge someone based on what they do for a living. Everyone’s smart in their own way.”
Watch the clip here:
