This is your life. Do not live out the life your parents have envisioned for you. Do what makes you happy.
There are kids graduating from high school or college and they’re moving on to the next phase of their life. Your parents mean well, but do not feel forced into living the life they have planned for you.
This is probably the first big decision you will have to make, because your parents have been telling you what to do for most of your life. It’s hard for them to stop telling you what to do and it’s even more challenging for you to step into your independence and make your own decisions.
It may disappoint them and cause a little drama when you do this, but be strong. The last thing you want is to regret what you did not do. You will be so unhappy and miserable, because you didn’t follow your dream – you followed someone else’s dream.
Parents (or others) think they know what you should do when it comes to making these types of decisions. Amy wants to be an artist, but her mother has been pushing her towards being a lawyer. Amy could be an awesome lawyer, but her life probably won’t be as fulfilling, because it’s not what she wanted to do.
Your parents want the best for you and they care about how your life turns out. It can only turn out well if you’re happy. This means you must do what makes you happy, not what makes mommy and/or daddy happy. There will be challenges along the way, but it happens. It doesn’t mean you were wrong. It’s part of the process of becoming a responsible adult. Take care of the challenge and continue on.
It’s surprising how many kids are in college, majoring in careers because that’s what their mother or father did. “My grandfather was an accountant, my father is an accountant, so I’m majoring in accounting.” Is this what you really want to do, or are you just lazily following the pattern?
There have been some instances where a child actually likes what the family career is and they don’t mind following the pattern. That’s fine. On the other hand, if you’re not so thrilled about it, you can do what you like to do. It may cause backlash, but this is your happiness. Claim your independence. They will get over it.
Some parents want to live their lives through their children. Even as a parent, they must understand that your life is your own. You have choices to consider. This is your life, your adventure. No one else can live it the way you can. In the end, you will become the successful and happy adult you were meant to be.