Venting College majors conflict

It's two in the morning and I can't sleep. Suddenly this site came to mind, so here I am

I haven't been here in a couple months, or done anything in years, things went down,. Progress, however slow, has been made

However,

I recently finished my second to last year of high school, and had conversation with my parents

The first thing they said to me is that I haven't been putting enough effort in my studies

This isnt my main problem, honestly i find it a little funny since my first year of senior high has been pretty awesome because the strad I'm in has subjects that are in my passion and I've been flying through it all

It's the thing they said next, that keeps me awake (literally hahaha)

They said they want me to go to some school nearby, and they had everything planned for it, even the major I was taking

I know that me complaining about this may sound arrogant, but for me, it's not that I don't appreciate their effort, the fact that they do this without my input just...rubs me the wrong way

They want me to go to a privite school with a major in education, and afterwards, work as a teacher in that school. This is good, but my heart isn't in teaching. I want to go to a medical school and help people that way.

They mean well, sure, and i appreciate that, but i really dont want to get stuck in something i dont have a passion for, ive seen many teachers in that situation and i am not gonna ruin some poor students' education because I'm a bad teacher

I just want them to understand. Plus, the journey to become a doctor is free where I live, so I'm really adamant in pursuing it

And I've told them what I wanted to do, for years now but they are just pushing this onto me and I really feel like this isn't my life we're talking about

It’s good to listen to advice from your parents but you must make your own decisions in the end.
Perhaps you can sit down with your parents and have a discussion around the subject? Take a reasoned and rationale approach and weigh the pros and cons of each option up.

Do what you want to do. Not what they want you to do. Or you will run the risk of living a life unfulfilled. Even if it turns out successful. You will always look back, and wonder, what if? Even if you do not make it in the field of medicine, for whatever reason. As bitter a pill as that will be to swallow. It won't be so bad, given that it was your choice, and your decision. As opposed to, somebody else's.

It can be quite the common scenario, parents trying to "dictate" what career their child should follow. You could argue that this follows on from all those preceding years where parents tend to make the majority of decisions for their kids and so it therefore can develop into a habitual trait...


Key of course is to have a conversation, but a detailed one where you put forward a detailed arguement so as to try to persuade them that your career choice is the right one for you. So when you speak to them, be clear about your goals, show them you have researched your chosen field, show them a proposed career plan. Speak to people in medicine if you can, be it via LinkedIn for example. Might also be an idea to seek the input of a careers counsellor to help you to put forth a persuasive arguement towards your parents of what you want to do. Having the facts and info to back you up at times help to play a convincer when you need to.

Could you talk to them and say something like

Hey, I understand how much you care for me. You love me and you've put so much effort into helping me ensure my future. I really appreciate your care.
I felt sidelined/misunderstood (fill in your correct words) that my input wasn't asked for. I know this is because you're my parents so just want to protect me. I know you want me to be happy. Right now to feel happy I want to pursue medical studies. I know you have doubts around it. I'd really love your support as I think this is where my heart lies.