“You don’t become what you want, you become what you believe.” 你不會成為你想要的那個人，而是會成為你真正相信自己可以成為的那個人。 After I started earning my own money, I truly understood how hard it was to make a living. I worked 20 hours a week at McDonald’s—even more time than I spent in school—yet I could only earn 1,440 NT dollars (≈ US$ 45.6 / ≈ ¥315) a week. Living in a big city like Taipei was really not easy. At that time, I had a boyfriend in Taipei. I liked dressing up nicely for our dates—buying clothes and cosmetics—to show my best self. However, he was serving in the military and insisted on splitting the bill every time, which made me really upset. Several times at the end of the month, I was completely broke. I had no choice but to call my parents and ask them to transfer 2,000 NT dollars (≈ US$63 / ≈ RMB ¥438)so I could survive a little longer. During this financially difficult period, my “salary destiny” at McDonald’s took an unexpected turn. Looking back now, it really feels unbelievable. Promotion to Lobby Hostess: My First Career Advancement After working at McDonald’s for almost a year, I was surprisingly promoted. I finally got the position I had dreamed of—McDonald’s lobby hostess. My hourly wage increased from 72 NT dollars (≈ US$2.28 / ≈ ¥15.8) to 85 NT dollars (≈ US$2.69 / ≈ ¥18.6), and I could even freely choose staff meals. When I was a regular crew member, I could only order basic set meals. But after becoming a hostess, I could finally order my favorites—spicy chicken burgers and chicken nuggets. We usually called lobby hostesses “Aunties.” Their job was to wear a red vest and a slim skirt, walk around the floor, refill coffee for customers, host children’s birthday parties, and sometimes help at the cashier. For me, it was not just a job—it was a sense of identity upgrade. However, not long after my promotion, I faced the first major challenge of my career—the outbreak of SARS. Trying Entrepreneurship During SARS: Turning Crisis into Opportunity After the SARS outbreak, Taipei gradually became a high-risk area, and the restaurant business was heavily affected. I was assigned to stand at the entrance to take customers’ temperatures. As the weather got hotter, I stood there all day, sweating nonstop. It was boring, and I felt like a “thermometer robot.” With no children’s parties to host and fewer customers coming in, I decided to do something different. I started setting up a small stall at the entrance, selling handmade crafts I made myself—plaster McDonald’s fries models, painted artworks, and small toys. Although it was only a small experiment, it taught me an important lesson: when the environment is bad, you must create opportunities proactively. This proactive attitude unexpectedly led me to discover a much higher-paying part-time job. Children’s English Cram School: Discovering a Fourfold Salary One day, while chatting with a younger schoolmate at the cashier, she told me she had started working as a teacher at a children’s English cram school. I casually asked, “How much is the hourly pay?” “320 NT dollars,” she replied calmly. I was completely shocked. That was four times my current salary. Thinking about how I hadn’t practiced English properly for a long time due to my busy life, a thought sparked in my mind: maybe I could try it too. A few days later, I gathered my courage and applied to an English cram school near my campus. The interview went surprisingly well. After a few simple English tests, I was accepted. That was how I started my journey as a part-time English teacher. The Joy of Doubled Income: Falling in Love with Teaching As my teaching hours increased, I received my first paycheck of over 20,000 NT dollars (≈ US$633 / ≈ ¥4,380).. When I looked at my pay slip, I felt an overwhelming sense of achievement—I felt capable and powerful.
