My story starts here…
“”I want to show educators that there is a realistic, feasible, and fulfilling option for us to step beyond the classroom and create a career we love.“
– Ruby, the founder of therubyway
In 2018, I graduated with a degree in psychology (First Honours), and I thought my future would be so bright. In fact, I was unsure of my next steps, but I knew I wanted to make a meaningful impact. Drawing on my volunteering experience with children, I thought working as a nursery teacher would suit me. So, I began working as a nursery co-teacher. While I enjoyed the work, I quickly realized I needed a formal teaching certificate to move up the career ladder. (Surely, you want the teacher with valid qualifications!) So, I invested another year into studying for a PGDE, determined to start a stable path in education.
Yes, it was a stable career path, but the working dynamic is so draining for me.
I thought it was just because the location, ‘Hong Kong’. Even after I had worked in UK nurseries, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. I loved working with children, yet the teaching environment left me unfulfilled. What once brought me joy as a volunteer didn’t feel the same when working full-time.
This stage of emotional drain and uncertainty about my future has been going on for 3-4 years. Meanwhile, I watched my peers thrive in other fields, earning more and gaining valuable work experience. Self-doubt crept in. Had I made the wrong choices?
It wasn’t easy, but I took the time to reflect, explore, and redefine what success meant to me. Yes, teaching is rewarding, but I can find other volunteering roles to accommodate it. To be fair, transitioning out of nursery teaching is never easy. We don’t have that office-based experience, nor do we use much computer software.
But I know, if I need to change, I need to invest in myself. Data analysis is a big trend, so I used my spare time to learn SQL. It turned out that I didn’t like it, so I moved on to learn other things. For example, digital marketing, behavioural science and project management. I felt that I liked connecting with people and doing meaningful work. So, I looked for charity jobs.
I spent 8 months finding a non-teaching role. Even though it was part-time and took 2 hours for me to commute, I took it because I knew I needed it! This journey led me to start as an engagement and project assistant, and when I gained more experience and felt confident, I stepped into business and partnership development, a space where I could continue to learn and grow. I know this is not the end; I’m still looking for more and up-skilling myself with a coaching qualification and will be studying for an MSc in Occupational Psychology.
This whole journey took me more than 2 years, and it’s still ongoing. It taught me that life isn’t a straight path. It’s filled with unexpected detours, moments of doubt, and surprising revelations. And that’s okay.
The most important thing is through this journey, I realised there are countless educators like me—dedicated, skilled professionals who feel unfulfilled in traditional roles but don’t know how to make a change! And I don’t want you to spend another 2 years just to find your way. Invest time, but not wasting time
“Invest time, but not wasting time.
– Rob Moore, a self-made multi-millionaire by the age of 30
That’s where we come in.
At therubyway, my mission is to help educators like you navigate career transitions, reignite old passions, or discover new ones. Whether it’s building a new career outside the classroom, rekindling a hobby you’ve put on hold, or exploring the unknown, I’m here to support you every step of the way.
Because your career shouldn’t be something you need to escape from—it should be something that inspires you to live more, with less time.
Welcome, and your next chapter starts here!
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