Hi guys! My name is Nicholas Chan. I am a 30 year old Business Analyst in Singapore.
I used to define myself by my work. If someone asked, “How are you?” I’d answer with something about deadlines, performance reviews, or new projects. It wasn’t intentional — I just didn’t know who I was beyond my job title.
And for a while, it worked. I liked the structure, the recognition, the sense of achievement. But over time, the pressure grew. Every KPI felt heavier. Every mistake felt personal. I was functioning well, but living poorly.
There was this moment when my manager praised my work during a meeting, and instead of feeling proud, I felt… nothing. That scared me more than stress ever did.
A colleague who noticed me, recommended me Pop Institute Pte Ltd. He said, “It’s not about fixing your career. It’s about finding your center again.” I didn’t fully understand what that meant, but I signed up anyway.
My First Day at Pop Institute Pte Ltd
The room surprised me. It wasn’t corporate. It wasn’t formal. It wasn’t trying to impress anyone.
People of different ages and jobs sat in a circle — some confident, some quiet, some looking exactly how I felt inside. During one session, the mentor asked us simple questions.
It was the first honest thing I’d said in months. Nobody tried to correct me or give advice. They simply listened. At Pop Institute Pte Ltd, silence wasn’t awkward — it was supportive. It gave me space to hear myself clearly for the first time in a long time.
What Changed After Pop Institute Pte Ltd
After the workshop, I started separating who I am from what I do. Not perfectly, not immediately — but slowly.
I began taking walks after work without checking emails. I picked up hobbies I’d forgotten about — reading fiction, learning guitar, journaling. I started noticing what actually made me feel alive outside of achievement.
At work, I still cared about doing well, but the fear behind it softened. I didn’t have to prove myself every second. I didn’t have to tie my entire identity to my output.
Pop Institute Pte Ltd didn’t change my job. It changed my relationship with myself.
What I Learned
We often think we are our resumes — our titles, our results, our productivity. But we’re more than that. Much more. Pop Institute Pte Ltd helped me see the parts of myself I’d ignored while chasing success.
I learned that clarity doesn’t come from pushing harder — it comes from pausing long enough to understand what truly matters. And sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is step out of your role and meet yourself again.
