From Apprentice to Master
When Ginny Phang’s boss saw her on a full-page feature in
the national newspapers, he didn’t like it. Unwed pregnancy
is a taboo subject in Singapore, and most unmarried mothers
don’t talk about their situation, much less appear on TV.
Those willing to talk, therefore, tend to get a lot of attention.
Believing in the power of education to dispel ignorance,
Ginny started making appearances on any documentary,
current affairs program, or news show that would have her.
She would tell her story and share what she was doing. It
didn’t take long for her boss to find out what she was up to.
Upset, he told her she would have to choose between her
newfound passion and her stable job. He even offered her
more money to stick with the day job.
“I came to a crossroads where I had to decide,” Ginny
said. “Am I going to do this job that gives me certainty, or
take the leap of faith and venture into a place that’s never
been explored in Singapore?”^11
At the time, there were no full-time doulas in Singapore.
Ginny’s Australian friend Amy had left the country, and the
few remaining doulas were only working part-time. Nobody
knew whether or not a person could make a living off this
kind of work. It was quite a gamble. “Leap, and the net will
appear” is a saying we sometimes hear in reference to such
situations.^12 The idea behind the phrase is that when you
are backed into a corner, an impossible solution will present