This essay recounts the story of Ethan Tan, a young Singaporean who abandoned a computer engineering career in favor of becoming a successful prawn noodle hawker. It details his struggles, his self-discovery, and the challenges of working with his father.
This essay, based on a conversation with Ethan Tan, a 24-year-old prawn noodle hawker from Singapore , details his journey from a computer engineering student to a successful hawker. The narrative has been edited for length and clarity. Ethan's story is one of self-discovery and a courageous shift away from a path that wasn't aligned with his passion. Initially, Ethan's parents, prioritizing tradition and security, steered him towards computer engineering, driven by his interest in gaming.
He enrolled without much thought or research, and the experience quickly became a struggle. He found coding incomprehensible and the examinations incredibly challenging. The turning point came when he was caught cheating in an exam. While he managed to avoid repercussions, the incident served as a stark realization that he was on the wrong track. He understood that resorting to dishonesty confirmed his disillusionment with the field and fueled his desire for change.\Following his academic struggles, Ethan sought a more stable path and took an internship at Accenture. However, the monotonous routine of the corporate world further solidified his dissatisfaction. He found the daily grind of sitting at a desk from morning to evening, enduring crowded lunches, and commuting by train, utterly unfulfilling. His only respite was the occasional nap in his office chair. This experience reinforced his decision to pursue an alternative career. After graduating and completing his mandatory military service, Ethan joined his father at his seafood hawker stall. This marked a significant shift towards his true calling. He gained practical experience over three years managing the stall, and later worked briefly in the kitchens of The American Club in Singapore to gain broader experience. He was then ready to venture out independently. In August 2024, Ethan launched Udang Udang, a halal prawn noodle stall, right beside his father's stall in Woodlands, Singapore. Drawing inspiration from his grandmother's recipes and a unique recipe learned from a streetside vendor in Penang, Malaysia, he embarked on his entrepreneurial endeavor. The initial days were incredibly demanding. He would wake up early every morning to prepare the broth, frying up to 40 kilograms of prawn heads. The broth needed to simmer for six hours, a challenging task in Singapore's humid climate. \Now, over a year later, his business is thriving. He serves approximately 600 bowls of noodles daily, generating about 3,000 Singapore dollars (approximately $2,300 USD) in daily sales. He manages both his own stall and his father's stall. His future plans include expanding his business with the aim of opening a new outlet every year in Singapore. Initially, working alongside his father proved difficult. They clashed frequently for the first two years, often resulting in heated arguments. Their differences extended to marketing strategies and pricing. Ethan favored investing in marketing initiatives, such as influencer collaborations and promotional videos, while his father preferred organic growth. Despite these disagreements, they persevered and learned to navigate their professional relationship. They learned how to separate their business and family lives, and to communicate effectively through their differences. At work, they allowed themselves to engage in constructive arguments and disagreements. When they returned home, the professional differences were forgotten, and Ethan remained his father's beloved son
Hawker Singapore Entrepreneurship Food Business Career Change
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