Maybe I can do it too...
Maybe I can do it too...
That small phrase I whispered while staring at my smartphone screen back then. I never imagined it would change my life so drastically.
A message from Carlos, a friend from my study abroad days: "¡Hola! I've started online lessons teaching Spanish!" Seeing him talking so happily on the other side of the screen awakened something that had been dormant within me.
At first, it was a really trivial trigger. Even when a colleague said at a drinking party on a Friday night, "Don't you think you should think more seriously about your future?", I felt like it was someone else's problem. But it was also true that somewhere in my heart, I felt an impatience that I couldn't go on like this. On Saturday morning, while drinking my favorite coffee, I was vaguely thinking about the future.
That was when Carlos's message jumped into my view. Teaching a language online. It was an option I had never even considered. But come to think of it, I had earned a Japanese language teaching qualification in college and had experience teaching international students. The moment I thought, "Maybe I can do it too...", a small fire was lit in my heart.
Of course, I was full of anxiety at first. What if my company finds out? What if I can't get any students? But more than that, the excitement of being able to challenge myself with something new won out.
I still can't forget my first lesson. The nervous face of the student on the other side of the screen. I was just as nervous. But as the lesson progressed, our tension eased, and in the end, we were able to part with smiles. "Thank you, teacher!" How happy that one phrase made me.
Little by little, the number of students increased. Through word of mouth and referrals, more people came to know about my lessons. At first, I struggled to balance my job as a company employee with my side hustle. I wasn't good at time management and sometimes had to cut into my sleep. But every time I heard my students say, "I can speak English now!" or "My overseas trip was fun!", my fatigue would blow away.
My family was also worried at first. My mother, in particular, kept saying, "What will you do if the company finds out you're doing something like that?" But seeing me enjoying my lessons, she gradually began to support me. Now, she even asks, "Have you gotten more students?"
Maybe I can do it too... That small whisper from back then had eventually turned into conviction. I have a talent for teaching languages. And there are people who need it. Realizing that fact made me happier than anything else.
Of course, it wasn't all smooth sailing. There were times when I was almost found out by my company, and times when I struggled with communication with students. But every time, I was able to grow. Every time I overcame something, I gained confidence.
Now, I want to say "thank you" to the me from back then. To the me from back then who gave me the courage to take that small first step. And from now on, I want to continue doing what only I can do, in my own way. Yes, I truly feel that way.
My experience with a side hustle teaching languages has become an e-book on Kindle!
"32 years old, company employee. I want to start something new." This is the story of Yuki, who was harboring such vague anxiety, as she takes on the challenge of a side hustle teaching online language lessons. Balancing work and a side hustle, tips for not getting caught by the company, the joy of increased income, and above all, the discovery of her own growth and potential. This story should give you the courage to take your first step as well. A must-read for side hustle beginners, depicting practical tips and the subtleties of the heart.