Remarkable women walk own path(2)

Sun Haili, 51, studies for her college course at her home in Beijing. (CHINA DAILY)

Sun is among many outgoing Chinese women, especially young professionals, who through determination and courage are striking out on their own path to pursue their passions.

Posts about women's self-exploration and self-value on Xiaohongshu exceed 3.1 million, and many have resonated greatly.

Weng Xiaoxue never thought she would be one of the top trending topics on the popular social platform Sina Weibo in late February.

Her choice of quitting her high-profile career to become a full-time fitness coach in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, has struck a chord with netizens and media alike.

Three years ago, Weng, now 30, was living what would be to some a dream life.

She had a lucrative career at a Fortune 500 real-estate company in Shanghai, where she worked in branding, having obtained a degree in civil engineering.

But the demanding hours — she often worked until 1 am or 2 am — took a toll. In 2018, she was hospitalized with severe acute myocarditis, a condition that forced her to take a year off from all physical activity.

"That was a wake-up call," Weng recalled. "I realized I couldn't keep sacrificing my health for my career."

Yet, still career-driven, she decided she could use a change of scene and joined a tech giant, hoping for a fresh start in Hangzhou, about an hour by high-speed rail from Shanghai.

But the tech giant's culture of long hours and relentless pressure only deepened her dissatisfaction.

"Everyone was competing to see who could work the hardest, and it felt suffocating," she said.

It reminded her of her health issue and put things in perspective.

In 2020, Weng made the bold decision to leave and explore a new career path. She transitioned to a smaller advertising agency in Hangzhou, where she took on a role as an account manager. While the job was less demanding, it wasn't fulfilling either.

The extra time meant she was able to join a gym to improve her health.

"I wasn't a sporty person, but I knew I needed to move more," she said. Her first coach, a single mother who had shifted her career from finance to fitness, became her inspiration.

"She showed me that fitness wasn't just about physical transformation — it was about mental and emotional well-being too," Weng said.

It didn't take long before she noticed the positive effect gym workouts produced. Her body fat dropped and she hasn't caught a cold or had a fever since, she said.

The turning point came in 2022, when Weng's mother was diagnosed with thyroid nodules, requiring surgery. She took a Friday off to stay with her family over the weekend, but had to return to the office on Monday as she was needed for some urgent work.

This frustration was a big contrast to her experience at the gym, where "there was an aura of positivity from everyone, and my health was evidently improved", she said.

Later that year, Weng took the plunge and decided to become a fulltime fitness coach, even before obtaining her certification.

"I wanted to help others the way my coach had helped me," she said.

Weng faced a steep learning curve, financial uncertainty and the challenge of building a client base from scratch.

"The first few months were tough," she admitted. "But I knew I had to prove myself through my professionalism and dedication."

Weng's days quickly become a far cry from her corporate past. She starts her mornings at 9 am, coaching clients until noon, followed by a mix of personal training and studying for certifications, before starting her evening sessions with her growing clientele.

"I've never been happier," she said, adding that her trainees and her mother have added to her sense of achievement in the new career.

"I have moved my mom to live with me in Hangzhou and her health condition has been good since I took her to work out with me," she said.

If her experience is of any reference, Weng said no one should be afraid to explore different paths.

"It's never too late to pursue what truly makes you happy. And once you find it, hold on tight because the journey is worth it," she said.

Like Weng, Han Xiao was the epitome of success 10 years ago.

The woman in her 30s worked in finance for nearly a decade, working her way up to be a private banking executive in Beijing's bustling CBD.

At the peak of her career, she led a team of financial experts and managed millions of dollars.

But as she was climbing the social ladder, Han was often attacked by a growing emptiness and a longing for something more meaningful than spreadsheets and profit margins.

And so, four years ago, she chucked it all in to open a romantic homestay near the shore of Lugu Lake, in Lijiang city, Yunnan province. "It was a decision out of my renewed understanding of life," she said.