Should we as parents force our kids to choose certain careers?

maya69 · Oct 13, 2011

An acquaintance of mine whom I meet occasionally told me that they had forced their college bound son to choose between two college majors: business or engineering only. I know from previous talks with her that her son was passionate about journalism and photography and wanted to pursue journalism major. He even at one time switched high schools just so that he could work on the school newspaper. Apparently after applying into colleges and getting into some good ones (though not the ones he wanted to go to) they told him that journalism is not a good career move. After a few days of convincing the boy has decided to try out classes in those business and engineering majors at a local college and decide on one. Parents felt a business or engineering degree had better financial security than journalism in this economy.

I had mixed feeling when I heard her narrate this. On one side I felt sad that this boys passion was taken away. This was not a boy who did not know what to do. He clearly knew his passion since middle school and worked on nurturing it. But on the other hand I admired the guidance that his parents gave him for his security later. I didn’t know who was right.

Probably this sort of thing happens a lot especially Indian families. And I am sure it all turns out fine in the end. As I have a son approaching college in 3 yrs I am also thinking of his future career goals.

What is your view on this?How would you handle if its your child?

rose8282 · Oct 13, 2011

I fail to understand how journalism is not a good career option? As long as my kid is really passionate about something and has chosen a respectable field,I dont mind. After all,its his/her life. I would think about options that dont have a growth. This sense of passion to be successful yet enjoy life has to be instilled in the child in a very subtle manner.

ars · Oct 13, 2011

If I was the parent I would not have him completely change tracks.
In US nurturing the passion can always be done along with job security.
My advice would have been "start with the major of journalism at the same time take classes related to business or engineering"
Who knows he can always double triple major by the time he graduates from college.
Journalism with business, or pre law or pre med, or computer science or ..... Endless possibilities.
Even if he just did just journalism he would be fine. Later, if he realizes that he is not happy with the pay scale he can always go back to school and change feilds.
Any thing is possible in US at any age when it comes to education.

maya69 · Oct 13, 2011

Thanks Ars/Rose for the replies. Yeah I would have thought a minor in business along with journalism would have been a better compromise.

On the other hand I know two girls who chose majors in college several yrs, one in music and one in french. Parents supported them fully though they did give advice the girls of taking some practical course work just in case. But neither girls took advice and parents allowed them to follow their passion. And neither one have been able to find jobs in their area of study and one is in retail and other in social work. Yeah they both got a liberal arts degree and are great well rounded kids but even at thirty they are not settled with decent jobs with benefits. They are happy with whatever they have and I am sure they will find their way but as parents we do worry as we get old and find that our kids are not financially settled.

rnair · Oct 13, 2011

as a teen , i was passionate about literature, news reading and similar disciplines.i thought i would end up a journalist , work for a leading news paper in the country etc.
when the time to move into college came , my dad suggested i study engg yet still keep my passion alive. he suggested that btech would get me a decent job , marry me into good family and the like.
i wasn't convinced then but i knew he knew best and did my engg and things worked out the way he anticipated.
at this point,few years later , married and kids and work , i feel grateful that they guided me well.
It definitely has inculcated a sense of security that comforts the family .
literature still remains a passion and i'm planning on my first book in due time.
As a teen I was confused as to whether I should turn my passion into career or not and parents played the most important role in understanding my thought process.