Dad is putting pressure on me for high school?

Question

Yesterday I went to the Guidance Counsellor at my high school and changed my Math course to Academic, because I have intentions to go to University. Now I would like to change my French to applied but my dad is saying that I am taking the way out. My dad took everything hard in high school, and he expects me to do so to. But I don't want to. I am really excited for high school but I feel pressured to do what he wants. It's my education and he just doesn't understand. My mother is fine with whatever I want to take. I'm going to grade 9 next year and I don't need the extra stress.

I'm planning on changing my French to applied anyways, but how can I explain to my dad that he is putting pressure on me and that I want him to stop nagging me about my high school courses? He is always encouraging me to go to University, but I don't even know what I want to do yet.

Answer 1

Just talk to him. Explain that your feeling pressured by him and that you would like to make your own decisions about your future, whatever it is that you decide to do. Maybe he doesn't realise that he is nagging you too much.
I took french and i'm not finding it too hard, good luck on whatever you decide to do!

Answer 2

your dad knows full well that you can't get a job out there these days that you can support yourself on without a college degree, and he wants what's best for you. He also wants you to get the best education so that you will succeed in life no matter what you go into after college graduation. The first two years of college are a repeat of what you did in high school, so if you buckle down and learn well in high school then your college days will be a lot easier for you.

These days everyone needs to know a language. Presently French is important to know the basics but is not as popular a language as say Spanish (plus spanish is somewhat easy to learn just as french is). Kids in their early years of school these days are learning chinese. And learning a language is a lot easier when you're young.

If you are stressed out ask your parents to buy you some multiple vitamins as the B vitamins in them will ease the stress. They also help you to continue to think clearly when studying.

In college you will have advanced math (algebra, trig, quantitative methods, etc.) so now is the time to get a good grip on math. If you don't understand something be sure you get it and move on. No rush. Just learn to make math your friend.

Answer 3

Your father is correct. You need to get as many academic challenges as possible -- especially if you are capable of meeting them. A big problem in our schools (US, I don't think you're from here) is we don't raise the bar high enough for our students. They take the easy road. Well, guess what? They get to the university and flunk out because they are not prepared. If at some time you decide not to go to the University, you've lost nothing by taking the harder courses, they will always serve you well. BUT, if you decide to go to the university, and haven't taken the hard stuff -- you will pay.
Your dad sounds like a smart guy to me! You might try listening to him!

Answer 4

You are a 14 year old kid. Your father is a person with many years experience in the world. He wants you to be prepared to be successful in life. You seem to want the easy way out.

If you don't challenge yourself and develop a little ambition and drive, you are going to be sorry all the rest of your life. Listen to what he is trying to say - he wants you to be successful and to have choices in life. Every hard course that you take opens a door into the future. Every slacker course that you take, a door is closed.

My kids chose the hardest courses they could find in high school. When they graduated, each of them was offered multiple scholarships - they had their choices of great colleges and could have majored in literally whatever they wanted. If they had taken the easy way out, they would probably have had to pay for their own college expenses, and been shut out of many different programs. Today they have fabulous careers where they make piles of money and do interesting things every single day.

Don't take the easy way out. Listen to your Dad

Answer 5

You gotta sit down and have a talk with him. Tell him that you can't take all the stress that your dad wants you to take. You're only a teenager, and you want a life that describes that...which means as less stress as possible. Just don't get lazy, and not even try in the less stressful courses. That's when you start getting problems.

Answer 6

There's one thing you got wrong in your question. You said it's your education. No, as a minor, everything you own is actually owned by your parents. So it's really theirs.

The other responses are quite well reasoned and I hope you will consider some of the wisdom therein.

Answer 7

I can see wanting to take less advanced courses... why your dad is pressuring you.. he knows that in todays job market.. it is getting almost impossible to get a good job with out having a degree.. he wants what is best for you..

Remind him though, that you can take less advanced courses and still get into a great univeristy....

Answer 8

what i have read in your question reveals uncertainity & a kind of teen dilema. first of all it should be clear to you what you want to do. then you talk to your parents about your plans. once they know your intentions they will definetly encourage & help you.