A former chef instructor left her 10-year career to run a school canteen stall in a career pivot aimed at finding greater personal peace.
Meiling spent roughly 18 months contemplating her resignation before finally leaving her teaching job in her late 50s, AsiaOne reported. She submitted her resignation letter three times to her boss, who initially rejected the paperwork due to financial stability concerns and offered a half-load arrangement instead.
“I really appreciated her concerns, and I also wasn’t quite ready to let go,” Meiling said. Her main fear centered on unemployment and a lack of steady income given her age. Relatives also questioned whether she could earn a living running a canteen store, though culinary industry friends encouraged her to try.
After resigning, Meiling explored home baking and took time to rest before receiving a message from her former school about a vacancy. She secured the stall and now serves Western food to students at the same campus where she once taught.
The daily routine starts at 5 a.m. with preparation and cooking ahead of recess. The physical demands involve long hours of standing and carrying heavy loads.
"I was already exhausted." I didn’t want to wash dishes or prepare for the next day,” she recalled to AsiaOne.”
Interacting with students provides the most fulfilling aspect of the work. Former students still call her “Cher,” while newer students address her as “Auntie.”
“I want to be like you,” a student told her.
“I didn’t know that I can inspire somebody, even though I am a canteen auntie,” Meiling said.
At 60, she plans to pick up artificial intelligence tools and digital skills ahead of retirement. She advises anyone considering a mid-career switch to understand their motivations and remain realistic about physical challenges.
“Learning is not limited by age,” she said.
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