My name is Bella, and I’m a test engineer. Right after graduation, I moved to Shanghai to kickstart my career. I lived far from downtown to save on rent and took the subway every day. Life there never slowed down—everyone was constantly on the move, and so was I. But that was part of the appeal. When asked during an interview why I came to Shanghai, I said, “There are more opportunities here—I want to see how far I can go.” Looking back, it may have sounded naive, but it came from a place of genuine hope.
Those early days weren’t easy. I was still learning, still figuring things out. Over time, I became more confident—able to take ownership of my tasks and deliver results. Working in large companies taught me to be methodical, to plan ahead, and to execute carefully. Later, in startup environments, I learned to expect the unexpected. Sometimes, a project I had poured hours into would be shelved overnight. It was hard, and I wrestled with self-doubt. But each challenge sharpened my thinking, helped me grow, and taught me how to approach problems with both logic and empathy.
A New Chapter in Wuxi
As life moved forward, so did my priorities. Getting married and becoming a mom changed everything. My husband and I knew we wanted a slower, more balanced life—for us and for our child. That’s when we made the move from Shanghai to Wuxi. It’s close enough to stay connected, but the pace is gentler, more human.
I didn’t jump back into work right away. Instead, I took a break for the first time since graduating. Those months were a gift—I got to decorate our new home, make up for time lost with my child, and give my mom a much-needed rest from childcare. But as the third month rolled in, a sense of unease crept in. I missed working. I worried about falling behind or becoming out of touch. That’s when I started looking again. And right on cue, Shinetech reached out with a remote role—one I had quietly dreamed about for a long time. I didn’t hesitate.
Starting My Remote Journey
Even after signing the contract and receiving my laptop, it didn’t quite feel real. Could I really work from home? The first day, I was both thrilled and uncertain. I missed the casual coffee chats, the buzz of an office, the sense of being “in it together.” At first, the silence of remote work was intimidating. I wondered if I could thrive this way.
But something shifted. Without the chaos of morning commutes and crowded trains, I started finding my rhythm. My days became more intentional. I could focus deeply, and when work was done, I was right there for my child. I’ll never forget the time he was hospitalized with pneumonia—I brought my laptop to the hospital and worked from his room. A doctor asked me, amazed, “What kind of job lets you work here?” That moment stuck with me. Amid fear and fatigue, I felt thankful. Remote work gave me stability and the space to care—for both my family and my career.
Finding Growth and Confidence at Shinetech
Now that my son is in kindergarten, my workday has structure. I close the door when school starts, dive into my tasks, and open it again when he returns. It’s a rhythm that works. I’ve become not just a more present mother, but a more focused professional.
What stands out most to me at Shinetech is the culture of trust and respect. People genuinely care—about their work, their colleagues, and the values we share. When my project team recently entered an automation testing phase, no one had the right technical background. I stepped up. I had some experience, so I brought the team together, reached out to the automation architect, and got to work. We coded, reviewed, rewrote—it wasn’t easy, but it was meaningful. I learned more than I expected, and I was reminded of something I’ve always believed: stay curious, stay humble, and never stop learning.