Chinese Graduate Chooses Canteen Job Over High-Paying Career for Mental Well-being
Huang makes around 6,000 Yuan every month (around Rs 69,000) working at the college canteen.
In today’s competitive world, prioritising happiness amid a hectic work schedule and daily life hustle is essential for overall well-being and productivity. A recent example highlighting the importance of work-life balance and self-care comes from China, where a woman with a master’s degree in journalism from a reputed university chose an unconventional path—working at the university’s canteen instead of chasing a high-paying corporate job.
According to the South China Morning Post, the woman, named Huang, revealed that she chose to work at the campus canteen to prioritise her happiness over societal expectations. After completing her graduation in 2022, she worked as an intern at several big online startups as well as notable state-run media organisations. However, it was her current position “working as a canteen auntie" that provided her with a greater sense of fulfillment than a media job.
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As for her daily duties, Huang, known as Mum Huang by students—starts her shift early each morning and works long hours, often on her feet throughout the day. Her responsibilities include serving meals, ladling soup or porridge from large containers, and chopping vast quantities of vegetables. Despite the physically demanding nature of the job, she says she has gradually adapted to the routine.
Talking about the difficulties she initially faced, Huang told the portal, “I remember once chopping through a whole basket of spicy peppers and my hands swelled from the irritation produced by the spice. I had to tolerate the discomfort, but it disappeared by the next day. Initially, I suffered from the exhaustion of this job. However, I quickly realised that a good night’s sleep would help me recover faster."
What about her earnings? As per the report, Huang makes around 6,000 Yuan every month (around Rs 69,000) working at the college canteen, which is significantly less than her classmates. She stated, “My university peers earn approximately 20,000 yuan (Rs 2.3 lakh) every month. But that doesn’t bother me. Working in the canteen is my choice, as it aligns with my personal happiness." She also expressed interest in becoming the canteen’s manager in the future.
However, her decision to work at the college canteen rather than any media organisation drew disapproval from her family. Belonging to a family of bus drivers, her family members were concerned about the physically demanding nature of the position and the low pay.
On social media too, her decision drew several reactions. While some lauded her for prioritising personal fulfillment over social norms, others questioned her choice.
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