Advice for academically strong, but directionless daughter

twogirls
Wed, 01 Jul 2020 17:35:15 +0000

I like what was written above in post #12 about how a focus on career in college might give you more certainty in the short term, but less flexibility in the long term. Not all students fit into that short term mold. There are different paths to success (as defined by the individual) and many don’t include a straight arrow.

I know a health care worker who was an anthropology major, joined the Peace Corp, spent two more years working as a tutor, worked for an organization helping the homeless, and eventually returned to school 5 years after graduation. These stories are not uncommon.

If your daughter has a chance to speak with her professors, she will likely find a few with similar paths. One of my D’s profs worked in a coffee shop following graduation, did some tutoring, went on to get an MPH and eventually a PhD.

Your daughter might feel less stressed if she talks to some people whose career paths were not a straight line.