Pop wannabes dump their day jobs for a shot at glory
IDOLS contestant Professor Bhengu may be schooled in the intricacies of maintaining commercial aircraft, but there is only music on his mind.
He has turned his back on a career as an aircraft maintenance engineer at South African Airways Technical to pursue his dream of becoming South Africa’s next Idol.
Bhengu, 25, who secured a golden ticket for the theatre round of the national singing contest in the Johannesburg auditions, is among a growing number of South Africans who have shelved their careers to pursue their true passions.
A fellow contestant, Roy Gluckman, who holds two law degrees, has also given up his career for his dream.
Career counsellors are seeing a rise in the number of youngsters abandoning their careers for their dreams.
“They are willing and brave enough to chase their dreams,” said Sandton psychometrist Alison Bennett.
Bhengu, who has a diploma in electrical engineering and a trade test in aircraft avionics, put his career on hold.
Even if he does not make the grade in Idols, Bhengu will not give up his music dream.
Gluckman has a bachelor of business science and an LLB, but singing is his first love.
The 26-year-old completed his articles at a top Sandton law firm in January, but said he could no longer ignore his dream.
The pair are not the only ones who have given up their careers to chase their dreams.
Michelle McNamara was working in a Johannesburg marketing firm when she found herself daydreaming about teaching yoga.
After becoming progressively more frustrated, she made a change. “I told my boss that I wanted to do my yoga teacher training.”
She and her husband travelled to the US last year to complete more yoga courses and qualify as vegan chefs.
For Durban doctor Parushinee Naidoo, her hearing loss steered her in the direction of her luxury lifestyle business.
After 12 years as a doctor, the 36-year-old ended her medical career to pursue her dream business, My Go 2 Girl, which provides services such as personal shopping, event planning and a gifting service.
Durban engineer Mahommed Moorad, 33, quit his engineering career to become a magician. It was while watching a David Blaine TV special as a student that Moorad, known as Mo Magic, realised he wanted to enter the world of illusion.
“I started magic as a hobby and this soon evolved into a part-time career.” Six-and-ahalf years later, Moorad made the change and has no regrets.
In 2004, Angus McIntosh, a stockbroker at the Goldman Sachs London office, was offered a promotion.
“My second child had just been born and I was facing the reality of them putting on the golden handcuffs. I didn’t want my children to grow up in that Goldman lifestyle,” he said.
He returned to South Africa, where he developed an interest in biodynamic agriculture.
After reading Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, he decided what he really wanted to do was farm. In 2008, he leased land from Spier and started organic farming.
Pretoria educational psychologist Liana Kruger said: “The high-stress context of the work environment has often encouraged people to resign and follow a less stressful and more emotionally fulfilling path.”