It’s difficult when parent’s don’t understand the path we want to take in life as they either think it’s not suitable or we can’t handle it and that it’s going to be hard work. When I decided when I wanted to do journalism as a career when I was 14. My parents weren’t that happy as they wanted me to become something like a doctor or a lawyer, which I didn’t want to do since it didn’t interest me and they told me being a journalist is going to be hard since there’s a lot of competition, as if becoming a doctor or a lawyer isn’t harder. Eventually, they accepted my choice on becoming a journalist as they saw that I was serious about it and that I was already writing articles for different online magazines.
Here’s the thing, your parents aren’t always going to be right on what you want to do, you should be doing the profession that you want to do or take the path that you want to take and you shouldn’t be discouraged to do what you really want to do, whether if that’s being a doctor, a journalist or working as a barista. When it comes to what you want to do in life, you have the right to decide on what you want to do. However, the tricky thing is when you’re still a teenager and living with your parents to know if you’re right and they’re wrong or if it’s the other way around.
You should first tell them what you want and then prove to them that this is the path that you have made for yourself and put in some effort into it. If you want to be a journalist, try writing for online magazines that are always looking for submissions and if they do have the option and then send them a pitch or an idea, write a story for them that is related to their style and who knows you might be picked. This will show your parents that you are confident and that you deeply want to go down this career path. If you’re not willing to put in the work into something that you say that you love then your parents are probably right.
I know, many parents don’t think that the Creative Arts isn’t a suitable or a “real” job but people all over the world achieve it so you know it’s not impossible for you to try and go for it. You should let others stifle your creativity and what you want to do on this world. Adults, believe it or not are still growing and still learning. I thought when I was 16 that I knew everything about the world but now I realise more as an 18 year old that I didn’t know everything when I was that age and that I know more now than I knew then and I’ll probably continue learning. The pattern is the same for everybody. There is no age that stops you from learning and grasping onto new ideas and new things.
This article isn’t meant to offend any parents or guardians and they might not pay attention to what an 18 year old girl (who has barely started her life) has to say but it’s to make them realise that you cannot force children into doing something they don’t enjoy and have no interest in doing as it won’t be beneficial for them and the only reason they are complying is because you asked them to, so listen to what kids have to say and try to be accepting and supporting throughout their journey.
