The reason I'm posting something like this here is because I feel comfortable talking about this subject with TechIMO users.
I'm having a problem as to deciding what I want to do with my life. This my seem like a simple decision to some, but with my parents constant with their incessent pressuring and doubting of my abilities, which then leads to the doubting of my own, it drives me up the walls and it gets very frustrating.
I've thought about being a massage therapist or computer repair specialist, or maybe a network administrator. I've talked to my parents about this, but they don't really seem to give it any attention and say, "Well if you want to work at McDonalds for the rest of your life, go ahead." Their reasoning behind this statement is that No College = instant failure. They talk about how their friends they used to have who didn't go to college or dropped out did nothing with their lives and became bums, and their current friends who did go to college are happy with families and can own huge houses and such.
While that may be true, I don't want to get married, have a family, or own a huge house(i like small spaces), or own an extravegant automobile. It just doesn't tickle my fancy. I like living the simple life. But if I even consider anything other than going to college, my parents are all over me like white on bread.
I want to do something with my life, but I don't know if it's the right decision. I don't know if what my parents are saying is the right way to do things or not. Am I right or are my parents right? I know that some people say to listen to your heart and others say to listen to your parents. It seems like they're trying to choose my future for me, because everytime I consider doing something, I have to take into account if it requires college or not, because as I mentioned before, my parents believe that a life without college education is a bad life.
My parents have been very helpful in my life, but I don't know if this is one of those things that they can help me with, or even possibly make things worse for me. My dad is excellent with math and I constantly struggle with it, and he's always been there to help me, so I don't know if I can just ignore what he has to say.
Part of my decision is also partly influenced by the college life itself. If I'm struggling with trigonometry now, I doubt college-grade Calculus will be any easier, and without my parents there to help me through, I won't make it far before I'm expelled. Having huge projects and tests due every week isn't exactly my forte either, because with a huge mental workload I crack under the stress(which is why I considered massage therapy, since I don't crack under physical stress and enjoy being hands-on).
I spend almost all of my day inside my room, because going downstairs or even just making eye contact with my parents will warrant a huge discussion about why I may never make it in life. I know some of you might say that my parents just care for me, and even though that's true, I think they're going overboard because, frankly, I don't think it's normal for me to be deeply afraid of my future or what my parents think of me.
I know some of the users here might think of me as a kid and pass off my post as complete angst, but it's really stressful doing this thinking by myself and all I ask for is a little guidance.
For those that will suggest having a deep-seated talk with my parents, I have already done so. All it has lead to was them letting me know that if I don't go to college, I will have no moral support from them whatsoever, which is pretty bad considering I have very little from them currently.