How Did Your Parents Influence Your Career Choice?

Well... I wanted to study a major in music or visual arts. Being from Latin America I was told "NO, that's not gonna pay your bills". We agreed on a common ground: Architecture. Has the right amount of Art and Science and allows you to work on your creativity while having a pretty good chance of getting a job. Also, my dad is an architect, and that obviously influenced my decision, because ever since I was a child I was fascinated about interior design and how to draw detailed plans, but yeah, I just chose it to like "flex" that I was able to graduate from a career that is not 100% artsy. Was not easy at all, but I have zero regrets...and now I am the one teaching my dad Revit 😂 I owe him credit for teaching me how to draw plans using giant papers, T squares, and isograph pens like the old days. It's a beautiful skill honestly... also, the first time I enrolled in college back in Panama, we learnt just like the old days, no AutoCAD

LittleTexas : This is going to sound terrible, but I don't remember having any talks with my parents about careers. We led a sheltered life until after Daddy passed, between my 8th and 9th grade. I do remember him telling me that if I decided to go into the service, go into the Air Force and not the Army, which was what he was in. One of my biggest regrets is that I didn't serve in the military, although I did serve in a different capacity. Mom was always a housewife. I think watching all the cop shows back in the day with my daddy made me lean towards law enforcement, supportive role not an actual LEO. I was definitely blessed in my career.

They didn't

Zippo.

LittleTexas :
My parents had zero care or help with processing through options. They were immigrants and education was not instilled in them so it wasn't passed on to us. I look back at my school days and realized I didn't have a single talk about our future. All 3 of us did well for ourselves considering we had no role models in that department.

LittleTexas : My parents were insistent that I go to college, and study in a field with a marketable degree. Best thing they ever made me do! After seeing my older brother struggle with only a GED, and my dad never getting quite as far in his career as he could have with a degree, it was a no brainer.I am the first in my family to have completed a 4 year college degree.

LittleTexas :
By telling me I would never be able to achieve my goal. That was the best motivation my mother could have given me. Showed her.

OBSD68 :
Good for you; you know your potential in your heart! I had to suffer some similar 'static' because my talents were not math based. My oldest brother is genius level, and my dad Chose his path, for him . Sad. Good thing is, he retired at 55, with 30 years in that career, and became the financial advisor he Always wanted to be. Now, at 77, he is fully retired, and much happier. My father's bullying of us just taught me how Not to raise and support a child, in their dreams. Both of mine chose their way, with my full support, and are very successful and happy, as it should be.

My Dad set me down and told me that if I wanted college, I needed to figure out how to pay for it. He said he knew I could figure it out. When I asked I ought to do for work, he said "Find people you like to be around, that work doing something that people need every day. See if those people you like know of any jobs there you can do. You are going to work for a long time, so it needs to be with people you like doing or making something necessary. His final words on work: You need to always be able to support yourself and your family. Don't depend on anybody doing that but you. You are responsible financially for your family. My Mom said it was as easy to love a rich man as a poor man. In Texas in the 1960's, that is not what any other girl's Daddy told her. It was the best advice a Dad could give.

LittleTexas : YES, 100% ABSOLUTELY!!!
I went in the opposite direction they did

LittleTexas :
I remember wanting to be a veterinarian and wanting to go to Texas A&M or Grambling University, but my parents well my step father took matters into his own hands and enrolled me in Texas Southern University and made me pay for it. So, yeah, it didn't go how I wanted it. I didn't finish there, I left after 2 years and didn't return to college until 18 years later, still didn't become a veterinarian, turns out I didn't really want to sedate or put down any animals...It took me a while to listen to my heart instead of others. I'm happy where I'm at in life.

WahineB :
Oh, that "easy to love a rich man.." line. My paternal grandmother loved that one. Luckily, my maternal Grandmama was the " You Can Do Anything You Put Your Mind To, With Hard Work" kind.

LittleTexas :
Mom and everyone on her side were teachers. I went to college and got my teaching degree. Focused on Special Ed. Taught 6 months in my district where I student taught. When the teacher came back from maternity, I couldn't find another teaching job in Illinois. All the jobs were in Texas where I knew no one. Three months later I started flying as a flight attendant for American Airlines. My Dad flew all over the world all of my life, so that seemed like an interesting past time. I will complete my 42nd year on October 30th. With American. Love my airline career. Have taught school/ subbed off and on as needed for my family needs… getting ready to retire and so grateful for the blend of focus from both of my parents.

bigla :
Wow congratulations on your career . My mom had been a stewardess on the east coast and even modeled for the airlines. She told me one day when I was trying to help her walk, she was in her70's " honey I wore 6 inch heels in an airplane for a living ". My dad was a pilot and neither went to college. Their pride is all of their 4 kids got a college degree and that was the answer to everything. Lol…

Barbrandy :
I LOVE your story! It's such an amazing life and so different from any others. Would love to know what my son would say, lol.