I'd say it's pathetic to say so

Because whatever you believe doesn't matter.

Not many people can get this kind of job.

What a gig!  It's more of a way of living, a way of making do than holding a belief : This particular person thinks her job is her religion and her job is teaching Chinese to college students. 

It's like selling a product, at first you have to brand it as something valuable.

Is Chinese language that valuable to most Americans? No. So you got to say it's my belief that 

makes it so. Well, only few would buy into this.