Career Choices: Traditional Professions vs. Creative and Skilled Trades
Career Choices: Traditional Professions vs. Creative and Skilled Trades 555
Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer… or Artist, Teacher, Carpenter?
Your exam results are impressive (or just average, or maybe not great). Your parents are boasting (or perhaps not). You have high hopes for a top-tier university (or maybe that seems unlikely). No matter how you look at it, there’s pressure to succeed.
But what does ‘success’ truly mean? Success isn’t just about showcasing achievements – getting into an elite school, excelling academically, being a class leader. It’s about personal happiness. It’s about managing your challenges and staying positive. Well, most of the time.
Maybe exam prep has left you feeling drained and disheartened.
Your parents’ pride might be embarrassing. That prestigious university seems like more pressure and less appealing than the interesting school you’d prefer. Or maybe you’re eager to take a gap year. Preparing for a career your family wants may be tiresome. You want happiness, and your idea of happiness differs from your parents’ expectations.
Pleasing yourself instead of your parents is daunting. You love them and know they want the best for you. They believe that a high-status career with good pay equates to success. They think the family will be proud, you’ll contribute financially, and their friends will be a bit envious.
Watch “Before You Feel Pressure – WATCH THIS” by Jay Shetty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSL9oJOQ7Rs
What can you do about all this? #Career Choices
Redefine success. Talk to your family.
Share your dreams.
Money and prestige do not define success.
You can’t be both successful and unhappy. If you’re seriously dissatisfied with life – not just feeling down for a short time – then you’re not successful. It doesn’t matter how much you earn, the car you drive, the vacations you take, or the home you live in. If you’re unhappy with your family, your job, or yourself, you aren’t successful.
If you clash with co-workers, dislike your boss, and dread work, even being an astronaut or brain surgeon won’t make you successful. No hobbies, few interests outside work, few friends, and lonely weekends mean that despite a high income, you’re not truly successful.
The reverse is also true. If you make just enough to cover expenses, and no one is impressed with your lifestyle, but you’re happy, you are successful. You have friends, enjoy your time at home, like outings, and are content with your job or colleagues. You spend weekends doing what you love. You care for your family and stay connected. You focus on your strengths and appreciate your blessings.
That sounds like a very good life.
How do you get your family to understand that you don’t want the career they’re pushing for? How do you respectfully say no?
Every situation is unique, but here are some tips:
Speak respectfully. Share your feelings and thoughts. Express your love for them. Help them see your definition of success. Assure them of your support – financially, emotionally, during health issues and family crises.
Ask if following their parents’ wishes made them happy. It’s tough to find our path if we only follow others. Listening to our own hearts is the best way.
Remind them of the many ways to earn a living. You might want to work with engines, fly helicopters, teach, own a bookstore, dance, practice psychology, or be a journalist. Instead of pharmacy, maybe archaeology excites you. Instead of engineering, perhaps drama captivates you. You might want to be a travel agent, work on a cruise ship, or help build hospitals in impoverished nations.
If you’re unsure of your path, consult your school’s career counselor. Try volunteering or interning in a new field. You might discover something amazing. Summer jobs could lead to unexpected opportunities and show your parents you’re serious.
If your family won’t budge and you end up in a field you dislike at a school where you don’t fit in, don’t despair. You won’t be alone, and the education will be useful even if you change careers later. Many people do that nowadays. It’s the norm as economies change, families relocate, and new careers emerge, offering different choices and opportunities.
Remember, the world is vast and full of experiences to explore and enjoy. Be curious and kind, take responsibility, and give respect. Earn money honestly, take care of yourself and your family, and be generous to others.
Success isn’t limited to a few professions; it’s about being a good person.
Careers of the Future
3D Printed Clothing Designer. Smart Contact Lens Developer. Driver-less Car Mechanic. Nano-medic. Urban Agriculturist. ‘Green’ Living Expert. DNA Scientist. And many more!
