Why a Chinese doctor with a PhD quit her job to become a delivery rider

A Chinese physician with a doctorate in Medicine has abandoned a traditional hospital career to become a part-time delivery rider and pub singer. The change, according to Liu Zihan, 31, has allowed her to lead a less pressured life while still covering her expenses. Liu's life has always been marked by academic achievements. She grew up in Hebei, a northern Chinese province famed for its intense education system, and attended Hengshui High School, known for its rigorous, military-style approach to schooling.

She subsequently studied medicine at Sichuan University before earning her doctoral degree at the University of Macau. Liu earned her PhD at 27 and began working as a psychiatrist at a hospital by 2022. She described her first 30 years as "meritocratic." Her hospital job was well-received by patients, with some even sending handwritten letters of gratitude.

However, the rigidity of the hospital routine eventually became too much for her. In February, Liu quit her position as a psychiatrist and postdoctoral researcher at a hospital in Zhuhai, one of China's most prestigious medical institutions. She found the inflexible hours and fixed routine challenging. While she recognized the professional benefits of having a PhD, Liu ultimately realized that conventional success did not bring her joy.

After leaving the hospital, she traveled and tried various jobs outside her academic background, including selling breakfast, working as a delivery rider, and performing as a singer at a pub. The experience exposed her to people from all walks of life, from restaurant owners to pub workers. Liu was impressed by their resilience and optimism, qualities she felt were lacking in her earlier life.

While she has not entirely abandoned medicine, Liu continues to work part-time as a therapist and remains committed to her flexible lifestyle. She also uses her story to highlight the pressure to succeed and its impact on young people. Liu believes that the anxiety she felt when contemplating a different path is a shared experience for many.

"Delivery riders share traffic updates, and pub singers and stall owners look out for each other. In comparison to grades and competition, there are far more significant values, like care and support," she concluded.