My career into everything related to bubble tea did not come all at once, but the change in actually making it happen in my life happened kind of rapidly. I kind of knew at a young age that bubble tea would be an important part of my life, but I never knew that it would become a significant part of it that would make me want to pursue as my passion and a way to earn a living. With that said, let’s begin this post by starting at the beginning of my professional career.
After graduating from Rutgers in Finance, I thought I was going to have a lucrative career as a financial advisor, make a lot of money, help people with their finances, and everything in regards to a family would fall in place. That did not happen, fortunately.
When I started looking for jobs after college, I realized most of the positions I was applying for were above my skill set and I lacked the experience. Fortunately, my cousin-in law provided me an opportunity that would last the next 10 years of my professional career. While I prefer not to go into much of what I did at this company that I worked for, I can say that I learned so much from it that I wouldn’t have changed the time I spent there for anything. The position, the company, and the people who worked there helped me grow into a much more professional individual and for that, I am forever grateful. However, after many years deliberating on what I wanted to do in life, as most adults contemplate this, I knew that I had to quit the position and delve full into what my real passion was…bubble tea!
After visiting a supermarket with a bubble tea shop with my bae (girlfriend), I found a sign that they were hiring. My eyes gleamed with interest and my brain started to churn. Was this my opportunity and a sign to truly follow my passion? I thought so and immediately the following week, I announced my resignation from the company I had worked for in the last 10 years. I knew I was taking a leap of faith of changing careers, but in my head and my gut, I knew I was making the right decision.
After a week of my resignation, I began training at my new position at the bubble tea shop. I was excited, nervous, and anxious to get started. I wonder how the other employees, whom I assume would be much younger than me, would accept a 32 year old employee from changing careers. As soon as I came in, everyone was accepting and offered any help they could. After starting to make a few bubble tea drinks, I knew that I found my place in the sun. The environment of being hands on, fast paced, and making bubble tea drinks was just a dream in my head that I thought wouldn’t be realized in my actual life.
After my initial training at the bubble tea shop, I realized that I didn’t just want to work at a bubble tea shop, I wanted to create everything I can about bubble tea. This would include creating a logo, creating a company, writing blog posts, making podcasts, drawing funny comics involving bubble tea, and any other creative medium I could think of. With the help of my bae (girlfriend), I got started, and within only a span of 2 days, we created my logo, sent an application to copyright my logo, registered my business, created my business email, created my social media presence, and celebrated with a champagne glass to a new beginning.
While this process happened so quickly, the idea was brewing in my head for quite some time, maybe 3 to 4 years. I never thought it would actually happen due to my lack of confidence and procrastination to really pursue any of my passions. However, I knew that this time it was different. I mustered up the courage to quit my job, take on a position at a bubble tea shop that paid significantly less, start my own business, and become the person I knew I always wanted to be. Sometimes, you need to push yourself and take a leap of faith. Find your passion, learn everything you can about it, and have the courage to pursue it as your career. I am proof that you can do it. This would have never happened without the support of my friends, family, and my bae (girlfriend). Thank you!
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