Now, what ?
One of the questions that keeps echoing in my mind during this season of burnout and existential crisis is this:
What if I’m successful in the wrong direction?
Before transitioning into the tech industry, I was a teacher.
Teaching wasn’t always easy. It came with long hours, emotional labor, and challenges that many people don’t see. But there was something about it that felt alive. I was interacting with people. I was helping students learn. I was witnessing growth happen in real time.
At the same time, I was also doing copywriting on the side. Writing gave me a different kind of fulfillment. It allowed me to express ideas, tell stories, and create something meaningful.
But to be clear, I didn’t leave teaching because I hated teaching.
In fact, there were many parts of it that I genuinely loved.
I loved connecting with students. I loved seeing their confidence grow. I loved the feeling that my work had a direct impact on someone’s life.
What pushed me away wasn’t the profession itself.
It was the reality surrounding it.
The low compensation.
The overwhelming workload.
The feeling of constantly giving so much of myself while receiving very little in return.
Like many educators, I found myself caught between passion and practicality.
And eventually, practicality won.
I wanted financial stability.
I wanted better opportunities.
I wanted to help my parents.
I wanted to build a future where I didn’t have to constantly worry about money.
So when the opportunity to transition into content writing and AI training came, it felt like the responsible decision.
It felt exciting.
New industry.
New skills.
New possibilities.
For someone who enjoys learning and growth, it felt like the next logical chapter.
And honestly, I don’t regret making that decision.
The transition taught me a lot.
It expanded my perspective.
It showed me opportunities I didn’t know existed.
But burnout has a way of stripping away distractions and forcing you to confront uncomfortable truths.
When the excitement of something new faded, I found myself asking questions I couldn’t ignore anymore.
Is this truly fulfilling to me?
Get Em's Diary⋆˚꩜｡’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
Or am I simply functioning on autopilot?
Am I building a career that aligns with who I am?
Or am I building a career that only looks good on paper?
The older I get, the more I realize that I am not someone who is motivated purely by income.
Money matters. It absolutely does.
I want financial freedom.
I want to give my parents the life they deserve.
I want them to experience comfort after years of sacrifice.
I want to create a life where my family no longer has to worry.
But I also know myself.
I’ve always been someone who comes alive through connection.
Through conversations.
Through storytelling.
Through teaching.
Through helping people grow.
Through creating things that make people think and feel.
And lately, I’ve been wondering if part of my burnout comes from being disconnected from those parts of myself.
Maybe my exhaustion isn’t simply because I’m working too hard.
Maybe it’s because I’m working hard in a space that doesn’t fully nourish the person I am.
What if the issue was never teaching versus tech?
What if I’ve been treating fulfillment and financial security as if they have to compete with each other?
What if the real challenge isn’t choosing one over the other?
What if the real challenge is creating a life where both can exist together?
Because the truth is, I’m not just questioning my career.
I’m questioning the kind of life I want to build.
A life that is financially sustainable.
A life that allows me to help my family.
A life that gives me freedom.
A life that still feels meaningful when I wake up every morning.
I don’t have the answer yet.
But maybe this existential crisis isn’t a sign that I’m lost.
Maybe it’s a sign that I’m finally becoming honest with myself.
And perhaps that’s where the next chapter begins.
Not with certainty.
But with the courage to ask whether the path I’m on still belongs to me.
