I want to teach, but my parents want me to become a lawyer

My parents insist that they will only pay my university fees if I study medicine or law because they want the best for me.

PHOTO | FILE

What you need to know:

  • The recipe for career success brings together several elements, among them the right choice of career, aptitude, attitude, self-application and a nurturing environment.
  • Without interest or alignment with personal goals, it would be difficult to succeed in any field, especially in the long-term.

Q. My parents insist that they will only pay my university fees if I study medicine or law because they want the best for me.

I have often told them that I have zero interest in the two fields because my desire lies in teaching. What do I do? Do I study the courses they are forcing me to or do I insist on following my passion?

 

A story is told of a young man who pursued a degree in pharmacy at the behest of his parents who held long successful careers in the health industry. Bowing to his parents’ wishes, he worked hard, obtained the degree and delivered it to them, saying that he hoped he was finally free to pursue his deeply held career interest in driving long-distance trucks. 

While the above story might be peppered with hyperbole, it is apparent that pertinent academic qualifications alone are insufficient to bequeath an individual a successful career.

The recipe for career success brings together several elements, among them the right choice of career, aptitude, attitude, self-application and a nurturing environment.

Without interest or alignment with personal goals, it would be difficult to succeed in any field, especially in the long-term. Note though that while passion could emanate from the nature of a job, it could also be prompted by considerations of the difference it makes in one’s life, that of others and the wider environment. What informs your passion for teaching?

Your parents no doubt desire the best for you and consider that a career in law or medicine would convey the likelihood of achieving success in life.

Or that it would give you, or perhaps them, a grander social standing in society.

There are successful lawyers and doctors and there are unsuccessful ones, as is the case with other careers. Listen to your parents, understand and acknowledge their point of view, but also explain your reasons for aspiring to be a teacher and respond to their concerns regarding your preference.

Bear in mind the possibility of teaching law or medicine, as every career has teachers.

Whatever path you choose in the end, remember it is individuals who do well, not careers.