I took a 7-year career break to care for my parents. I lost my professional identity — then found a new one.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Natasya Pawanteh, 45, who lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

In 2017, I was a raging workaholic.

As an ambitious, mid-career geologist at Shell in Sarawak, Malaysia, I was focused on deepening my expertise. Working, including weekends and late nights, took priority over health and sleep. Over time, it started to take a toll on me.

Around this time, my sisters were looking after my parents, who had both had a stroke years prior. I wasn't sure how long I'd have left with them.

In May 2018, at age 36, I left my job due to the stress I put myself under and my parents' health, and moved to mainland Malaysia to stay with them. I planned to take a maximum of two years off to give my sisters a hand, then re-enter my industry.

My break ended up lasting 7½ years, and it led to an unexpected, eye-opening career pivot.

This story is part of My Big Break, a series by Business Insider's Charissa Cheong. She interviewed six people who took a career break and bounced back.

Check out the first three installments below and share your story here. Click here to follow Charissa.

• I worried I'd never find a job after a 6-year career break. One thing made it easier.

• My first career break in 20 years was daunting. I made the most of the reset and got a new job in 8 months.

• I took a 10-year career break to care for my daughter. I learned important lessons about bouncing back.

Caring for my parents became my full-time job

I liked spending time with my parents, but they asked why I had stopped working when I had been doing so well. They kept encouraging me to get back to work, so I considered taking a Shell job abroad in the Netherlands, but it didn't pan out because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Later that year, my father's health began to really deteriorate, and I was thankful I was at home and could take him for treatments.

I realized I had a selfish outlook on life, all about me, me, me.Natasya Pawanteh

One caregiver wasn't enough for two unwell, elderly parents, and it became a full-time job for my two sisters and me. Whenever we needed a break, I'd call my brothers who worked in Kuala Lumpur and say, "I need to sleep, can you please come home for two days?"

The hospital stays got more frequent until my father died in December 2022. We didn't have time to grieve because my mother's health went badly downhill, and we had to be switched on for her. When she died in August 2024, everything finally sank in.

Getting back into geology would've been an uphill battle. Instead, I found a new career path.

In the months after losing my mum, I needed to get back to work because I'd practically run through my savings, and my siblings were generously supporting me.

It had been nearly seven years since I had worked as a geologist, and none of my informal chats with people in the industry resulted in any opportunities. One person told me I'd have to start from zero after my break. It would've been an uphill battle to get people to take a chance on me.

I wondered if I was getting stupider, since I wasn't using my brain in the same ways.Natasya Pawanteh

Plus, my heart wasn't really in it. I'd loved geology since I was 16, but I realized I had a selfish outlook on life, all about me, me, me. Caring for my parents made me realize what it's like to be present for another human being. I decided I wanted to try volunteering to expand my perspective.

While I was helping to distribute food for a nonprofit called Kechara Soup Kitchen Society, one of the ladies in the queue saw that my T-shirt had ridden up at the back. She pulled it down very gently, rubbed my back, and waved, since she wasn't really verbal. I stood there and wanted to cry. Her kindness led me to realize I wanted to be someone who helped people in need.

A volunteer asked if I'd consider doing paid work there, and I said I'd love to. I met the general manager and got my first interview on the spot. I'd always undersold myself in the past, but this time I talked about the transferable skills from my geology career, like managing stakeholders and logistical planning.

In my second interview, I was asked how caregiving shaped my thinking about caring for people and community. It felt great that the interviewer didn't dismiss my seven-year break, but made it the focus of the interview.

In late 2025, I was offered a job as an assistant to the general manager. I love having a positive impact on people's lives. I don't know where I'm going to end up in this career, but there's so much to learn. It's like a new universe has opened up for me.

Caring for my parents is my biggest achievement

Becoming a caregiver was very difficult for me initially. In the corporate world, you build your identity around your career achievements. Once I left, I felt a bit invisible and like I'd lost my professional identity. I wondered if my friends in the industry would still take me seriously. I wondered if I was getting stupider, since I wasn't using my brain in the same ways.

But when my parents' health started declining, I had to switch those thoughts off to focus on spending whatever time I had left with them. It was a privilege to look after them until the end of their days, and I think that will be the greatest achievement of my life.

My career break taught me patience and helped me get better at dealing with other people. I'm more gentle and understanding.

I'd encourage others who take career breaks to try things they wouldn't have thought of before. The life and career path you've been trying to build isn't always the one that you need.

Working for an NGO wasn't on my bingo card, but I'm really happy that I've ended up here for stage 2.0 of my life.

Shell did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Have you taken a career break and would like to share your story with Business Insider? Contact this reporter: [email protected]