• A PKU grad working in a cafeteria? This surprising choice challenges the elitist assumption that top diplomas must lead to high-paying jobs. Highly educated people should be free to choose simpler work. We should respect their choice as long as it is made of their own will and in their own interests.
• If I were her parents, I’d be disappointed. After investing two decades of time, money and effort into raising a PKU postgrad, she ends up ladling food in a cafeteria? What was the point of going to a top university?
• Gen Z wants more than money. Today’s young professionals care about work-life balance, personal growth and mental well-being. High salaries and social status are no longer the only goals when choosing a career. Source: Sina Weibo
Yu Gui, chief commentator, The Paper:“The ultimate goal of education is to help individuals gain more freedom of choice. If all top university graduates funnel into the same industries – tech, finance, public service or academia – that would be a real imbalance. Everyone is different, not just in ability and academic background, but in interests, values and views on life. We should embrace this diversity.”
Xiong Bingqi, author and education commentator:“It’s unfair to judge a graduate’s job choice as a ‘waste of talent’ simply because it doesn’t match their major or diploma. A degree should expand one’s career possibilities, not limit them. In the end, it’s about their qualities, capabilities, and most importantly, their will.”
Jiang Deyu, media critic:“Society needs a more inclusive way of valuing different occupations. We must move beyond stereotypes about blue-collar jobs. True progress lies in respecting career choices that deviate from the so-called ‘standard path.’”
Two years ago, Huang Xiaoyi, a journalism graduate from the prestigious Peking University (PKU), made headlines when she turned down high-paying job offers to work at the university’s cafeteria. Now, her story is once again the subject of widespread public attention after she confirmed in late March that she had resigned from the position last year, without revealing her future plans.
After graduating in 2022, Huang declined offers from internet firms and major media outlets, opting instead to take a physically demanding role at PKU’s campus cafeteria. There, she earned the affectionate nickname “Mama Huang” from students. Her daily tasks included chopping vegetables, ladling soup and serving food, often while on her feet for hours. Despite the lower pay and strenuous work, she said she found meaning and satisfaction in the simplicity and physicality of the job, preferring it over the stress of corporate life.
On March 31, Huang opened a RedNote account called “I’m Mama Huang” and posted a video reflecting on her experience. In it, she revealed that she had left the job the previous year and explained that working in the cafeteria was part of her long-held dream to one day become a cafeteria manager and promote healthy nutrition.
Her story reignited online debate. Some criticized her decision, calling it a waste of educational resources and claiming that someone with her credentials should take on more competitive roles. Others argued that a PKU graduate choosing “menial” work reflected a lack of ambition. But many netizens defended her choice, praising her for following her passion and rejecting societal expectations. Some pointed out that the backlash revealed an underlying societal bias against blue-collar work.
In response to the controversy, Huang posted again on April 3, writing: “The path of life is not just about going up or down – it can extend in every direction.”
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