Ya, I know the title reads kinda cryptic, so let me explain myself. One of my ex-colleagues, ML, was the Level Head of the Hospitality Department. As a Level Head, this meant that she was second in command to the Head of Department. As one of the school’s Key Personnel, she played a role in charting the school’s strategic directions and ensuring that batches of Hospitality students enrolled successfully into an institution of higher learning.

In December last year, she retired, presumably to start her own baking business, released from the shackles of the rat race. I say presumably because she has changed her mind since then.

When the new school term started this July, guess who I saw working up a sweat at our newly opened Western food stall? Yes, ML came back as a canteen operator and currently whets my appetite with her flavourful mushroom soup and tender grilled chicken.

I don’t know how it works in your country, but in Singapore, occupation snobbery exists. It isn’t exhibited outrightly, but people think that teachers have a higher social status than canteen operators. It’s kinda demeaning - associating one’s self-worth with his/her profession. But it is what it is.

For ML to come back to our school and not give a darn about how others may perceive her, I’m impressed. She probably doesn’t see herself on a lower pedestal than her ex-colleagues. She probably is concerned about serving hungry students and staff to the best of her ability.

I think when your lens is set on the frequency of value creation and service to others, your inner heart grows more robust. That you develop immunity against external judgements and just be.