Daughter wants to give up?

robinsuesanders
Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:10:17 +0000

It does sound like your daughter is shaken by some performances in classes that didn’t measure up to her self-imposed standards. You say she’s a planner and started college with her college career all mapped out in biology. If she was also really planning on working in a lab setting after graduation, she might also be having trouble letting go of a dream. The fact that she failed to accomplish her plans (in her eyes) may be seriously undermining her own sense of self-worth as well. Lots of love and uncritical support on your part may help her realize that she’s still smart, even if chem didn’t work out so well and she knows now that she doesn’t want to major in biology. Also communicate that most people do not get a job that is directly related to what they majored in. Among other things, what employers want from liberal arts graduates is an ability to think critically, come up with reasonable solutions to problems, write clearly and concisely, and work well with others.

In addition to having your daughter check out her college’s career center, you should suggest that she talk to her adviser and/or another professor whom she’s comfortable talking with. The professor might be able to help her face her worries and dilemma concerning picking a major at this point, as well as provide some academic advice about how the course work she’s already completed can be applied to various majors.