Parents (Don’t) Know Best

Another chapter in my life will soon come to an end, sigh. I am neither excited nor depressed. I try not to get too worked up over life because although I am always thinking, planning, and researching my future, I know everything will fall into place. I just know it, but I wish my parents felt as comfortable as I am.

Last week, I got into a mild argument with my parents about what I was going to do after graduation. They didn’t like the idea that I had a five year plan to take off from school. I let them know that the five year plan was indefinite, it could be less than 5 years depending on how I felt or what I was doing.

But they would have preferred me to go straight into Medical School. I wish they understood how busy my years have been. I would like to think I am a very active person on campus, while double majoring in Biochemistry and International Relations and having two volunteer jobs and two jobs. They think I could easily pick up an MCAT book and study for a test that could make or break my chances of going to Medical School and apply. I prefer not to rush anything, or take my time. I would prefer to go with the flow, rest my brain, and learn more about myself. And if I do anything, I want to give it 210%, and that meant not taking the MCAT yet, and applying for Medical School.

My parents are from Africa, and they have this idea that having money will bring me happiness. I totally understand, but I do not agree with them. I want to be a doctor for me, and if I could be the poorest doctor and save lives, I’d take that job in a heart beat. Saving lives, and putting smiles on people’s faces is my currency. But it got worst when I gave my my father a hypothetical comment. Would if I didn’t want to do medicine, or would if I didn’t get accepted. There are things he needs to understand because I do not make the decision whether I get into medical school or not, but what I do have control over is how I have utilized my time, and how I will continue to utilize my time to be competitive.

They need to know that I want to be a doctor for me, and not them. They need to know that I would like to have other professions before I go back to school. They need to know I want to continue to grow as an individual. They need to know that I want to be happy, and if that means taking time off after graduating from college and applying to med school whenever I felt like it or possibly even changing trajectory, they should be fine with it.

I am always thinking, planning, and researching my future. They should learn to trust and respect my decisions. I got this far, right?

Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:31pm with 9 notes

Post Notes

  1. abcdefghiloveyou said: you’ll be fine. they’ll be proud. being kids of foreigners and first-gen american you realize that “happiness” is such a western concept. but you also know that you’d rather be crying in a ferrari than on a bus. we’re so young. take your time.
  2. sol--solis said: <3
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