How can I tell my parents that I don't want to be a doctor?

Question

I am 17 years old and a first generation Vietnamese-American. My parents immigrated here during the Vietnam War to live a better life and also give their children many oppotunities and let them follow their dreams. I'm approaching my last semester of high school and I've decided that I want to go into the journalism field. The problem is that ever since I was born, they've wanted me to become a doctor. I've mentioned to them before that I don't want to go into the medical field and they've threatened to cut me off from my college fund. What should I do to gain their support?

I've been on the newspaper staff at school for the past four years and I am currently the Editor In Chief. I've also won numerous awards at state journalism contests. Even with all of these achievements, my parents still think journalism is a waste of my time.

Answer 1

Do your research. Find out what classes you have to take, internships you'll need, how the prospective job market looks, starting salaries, advancement opportunities, the works.

Put it together into a report, even into a news story and show them that you have this planned out and you know what you're getting into.

Failing all else, look into financial aid and scholarships. Don't let them make you go into a field you won't like. This is the rest of your life we're talking about.

Answer 2

I agree with Emmy! Do the research and look into other funding options. What I would add to that is that you said your parents immigrated here to "give their children many opportunities and let them follow their dreams". Explain to your parents that your dream is journalism and that you would hate for them to be hypocritical making you go into a field you don't love. Just stress how important this dream is too you and explain to them all of the upsides of journalism. Tell them your passion and love for it and explain why you want this field so much. They may believe that being a doctor is a good profession because you get a good name, good money, it's an ideal career in general, it shows success, great benefits, almost always has a job, and that it shows off your brains and abilities. Journalists usually get a bad reputation, show to them how a journalist can do great things and hold a good name. Show that a journalist is something you can be proud of. Join the school paper this last semester to show them how good you can be. If they can't accept your dream after all of this, pursue it anyway and always try to please them with you true talents. Point out that this is your dream and you are not giving up, just like they wouldn't want you to give up. After all you are still going to college and accomplishing great things!
Go for it and good luck!

Answer 3

well here is the thing ..I'm a son off a 2 immigrant parent too , i had the same problem , they pushed me to study math too, but I'm studding finance now after being a math graduate ..any way what happen when your parent are immigrant they always want them kids to be them dream ..and that stupid because they seem to forget that that kid have his"her"own personality and dream too ..all what u have to do tell me that you understand them dream but u do have your own too ..also tell me i can't study med field because you cant handle it if they insist go to the college and study the basic courses before getting seriously in the major and show them that you are stressed and you can handle heavy subject so they will understand that you can't be Doctor ....any way i didn't tell ya that to do the worst thing ..it just to help ya ...more over make sure whatever you're going to do make sure that you are going to be good at it because you are going to make a choice which probably some of the other majors will better for u OK , do your research and find your dream and don't give up Intel you finish it ..in the end i which you the best :-)

Answer 4

This might be difficult... If they are very set in their ways as I know some parents can be, you may have a hard time convincing them.

You could try to argue with them about it, ask them why is it so important to be a doctor? For the status or money? There is more to life than a paycheck and impressing other people. Is it because they want you to help other people? In which case are they forcing you to be a specific type of doctor?

It sounds like they just want to insure your future but there are many other futures out there that do not involve the medical field. Try to open some discussion and see if you can refute their arguements. If you can get them to admit that its just about money then you're probably close to winning the argument.

Answer 5

First of all, if they truly care for you and love you....they won't cut you off from the college fund cause then you will be a High School Grad who will look like a bum, something that then makes them look bad. Just tell them that you will do it regardless or wait till your in college then switch your major half way threw. They can't do anything at this point. It's not like your parents want you to be a doctor OR a bum.....they know if you do not become a doctor, that you won't be a bum so they really do not have a choice. My parents pushed me to be a Lawyer and I never had an interest in it at all until my Junior year when I started talking Law classes. So yeah, trust me parents are all talk....if you were gay, then that would be a different problem.

Answer 6

MeggieDoDo ... sorry if I misread ur name...since I'm a parent and have been through the process... it's very natural for them to want u to head in medical field. It's prestige, huge amount of money ( our friend is dental surgeon and he clears 3/4 to 1.5 million depending on how much he wants to work. The girl staff only work M-TH off Friday's... so there is alot of perks. He goes to 3rd world countries and performs with surgical team, teach in foreign countries and travels.

But unless ur family is financially read to pay for Bach. Degree, then med school and internships etc... for a women it's a huge part of their lives sucked away. It really needs to be for the kids who have the desire and passion to help sick people. It's grueling, exhusting, and leaves u without a social life in the beginning. It's a real pressure cooker during college and is worse come med school. Not to mention how much outstanding debt occurs with +8 yrs of schooling and interning another 2-4 yrs.

Taking lots of math/science never hurt anyone! Whatever u do, realize they will not agree in one conversation. It's going to be a process. Getting them use to the idea, then explaining your reasons, then going back to the idea of journalism, sharing your research to various scenarios. Life is way too short to be miserable, dissatisfied in career with much pressure, huge malpractice insurance, and long hours. Exposing yourself to lots of disease.

U need to let them know how much u value and respect their opinion but were talking the rest of ur life. Provide them with sound information, well thought out dialog, don't whine nor yell. If teachers who encourage your journalism endeavors would speak to them, it could help. Journalism you can vary wheither to write reviews, publish stories, reporter, broadcaster or published author... Show them ur plan, share ur dreams. Besides... the first two yrs of college everyone takes general ed classes.

Answer 7

if you have any real good literature papers from school show them to them to let them know youhave great writing ablities. you could ask a teacher or counseler that you trust in school to have them tell your parents one day about how good you are at writing and such stuff like that.
or just plain flat out tell them that you have the freedom to do what you want(its true) and that you feel you'd do much better in journalism and would do horrible in the medical field since you have no interest in it! try telling them some benefits of it too if you can.
and dont forget to tell them you'l make them proud no matter what you do!

Answer 8

tell them again how you feel, remind them why they left Vietnam; opportunities and their dreams are not yours. Gently explain your heart is set on journalism and thank them for giving you the chance to make that decision. there are grants and loans you can apply for and also if you don't want to be a doctor your heart won't be in it. the medical field can be a dangerous place especially if it's not where you want to be.

Answer 9

Heyyee beuty
Dont ory its the case allmost all the genius students they have ,parents they r ok in their place & we also.its too simple go and sit beside your parent ask very politely. dont say that u r not interest to be a doctor but say that am interested to be a journalist.it may change the desire of your parent.one more thing before going infornt of your parents have a little bit knowladge on the field u r to be,keep ocean of patience.say cooly softly keep your word in them.ok

Answer 10

Build value. Research examples of writers who have won lots of money. Show them examples of royalties, and how they add up over time. Show them the cost of malpractice insurance, and explain to them, with professional articles, that the medical profession is not as lucrative as it used to be, due to the deals that HMO's and hospitals are making to keep costs down.