<p>I want to write novels or do something in the writing field or go into computers and</p>
<p>She keeps saying I have to have something substantial to fall back on
I understand this so I told her I’ll major in CS
She said I already KNOW everything about computers
She tells me I can type fast and can look up anything on the internet and know how much RAM my computer has so I am automatically a computer god.</p>
<p>She also says, Since I look up my illnesses on WEBMD and I am a hypochondriac, that I would make a god-like doctor.</p>
<p>She says if she forces me into it I’ll discover that I like medicine.</p>
<p>What do I do?</p>
<p>EDIT: also, I have thought about being a doctor before but it is a static career. I don’t like the idea of getting up and doing the exact same thing for the rest of my life.</p>
<p>Atleast with CS or writing I can create something NEW.
I thought about going into finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease but I figured if there are millions of people smarter and more dedicated to me at that, then I probably won’t find a cure for it.</p>
<p>I was in the same boat as you for for 17 years of my life. Unfortunately I did not have the personality to stand up for myself. I was miserable and did not want to talk about my career plans with friends or worse–friends of parents. My mom (typical Asian mother) told me I was going to be a doctor. Long story short, she was trying to live her life through me. She attempted medicine and could not follow through with it over twenty years ago. I can remember throughout my entire life instances where my parents were forcing medicine on me. My thoughts were always wavering. I wanted to make my parents happy so for months–even a year or so–at a time I’d decide I’d be a doctor. Then I’d really look at myself and see what my strengths and passions were in and I would come to the realization that I could not be a doctor. I applied to college this past year and even then, I applied with the intentions of pursuing medicine. Since then, I realized that time was running out (I was certainly NOT going to pursue a major I wouldn’t enjoy), I decided that I had to tell my parents what that I wanted to pursue law, whether they liked it or not. I could remember when I was 13 saying I wanted to be a lawyer and they got mad at me for considering something not medicine that I cried. So, I knew that telling them this would be a shock. Nevertheless, there comes a time in life when you realize you are living for yourself–not your parents–and that your well being comes before their expectations. I had an intervention with my parents. Granted, it was the one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. You will have to sit down with your mom and tell her that you won’t be happy pursuing medicine. You will be miserable in college and throughout your life doing something that you won’t enjoy. The main reason my parents wanted me to be a doctor was for money, so reassure your parents that you will be fiscally responsible and therefore financially stable doing whatever you choose to pursue. There will be arguments and a lot of tears (if your mom is adamant as my parents were. They had been beating the idea into my head since I was 5 years old), but you certainly cannot pursue a field you have no desire for. It will end up in failure. I wish you the best of luck. I’d be very interested in hearing how it goes, so an update would be great!</p>
<p>@Tabby123,
Thank you Tabby for that. Very inspiring story. I will try and talk with my mom later on after she cools down a bit (Had an argument earlier).</p>
<p>The good news is: You are in charge of your life. The bad news is: You are in charge of your life. Do whatever you feel right. However, don’t discount the words of wisdom from your parents.</p>
<p>She asked me why I want to be a writer and I told her.
She said she’ll leave me alone for 2 years in college and if it doesn’t work out I have to reconsider.</p>
<p>I first asked her if she ever wanted to be a Doctor.
She told me for a while, but then she asked me if I was asking this to see if she was pushing her dreams unto me. She said she wasn’t then asked me why I wanted to be an author</p>
<p>I told her because it makes me feel good and I want to inspire and help people through my characters and stories. And to entertain people.</p>
<p>She then told me that if I am miserable for the first 2 years in College that I need to reconsider my choices and go into something better.</p>
<p>I’m glad that you decided to have the talk with her so soon! That was a very big step. If your mom was like my parents, you haven’t heard the end of it yet. Nevertheless, you should be happy knowing that your mom considered your interests and gave you a choice.</p>
<p>You realize that it’s possible for a doctor to publish a novel? Michael Crichton published his first novel as a student at Harvard Med. Realistically, this entire argument is a moot point. You don’t need to major in anything special to be a writer. Nor do you need to do anything special to be a doctor. You could graduate from a good college with a high gpa in any major, then do a post-bac year somewhere else to fulfill premed requirements, and voila! You’re a doctor! Just like a million other Americans.</p>
<p>My mother wanted me to be a doctor. About three years ago, I informed her that there was no way in hell I would take up that career. She then proceeded to apply the silent treatment. In my freshman year of college, I decided that I would try to please her and ended up ruining my GPA and guaranteeing myself very stressful sophomore, junior, and senior years, in addition to suffering a few nervous breakdowns.</p>
<p>Trust me, it’s not worth it. Do what you know you’re good at. If you absolutely hate the idea, then don’t do it. But like a lot of other people said, it’s not at all impossible.</p>
<p>Sigh … my parents want me to be a scientist or engineer or something, and I’d rather go into journalism or something. But they think that’s a sucky career (do I want to end up homeless? hah.), so I’ve just never bothered telling them.</p>
<p>Say you’re undecided and then once you apply for colleges, it’s too late for them to do anything.</p>
<p>Yeah, parents will use the same argument; at least my parents did for wanting me to become a doctor: “Think 20 yrs from now. The only jobs available will be the ones where you physically have to touch the person.” And then they proceed to prove that other jobs are unstable because of outsourcing or some other reason or “aren’t right for me” (even if they are) to justify their point.</p>
<p>I have a cousin who is the same age as me. We are Jewish aka the Asians of 40 years ago. Both of our parents wanted us to be doctors. I fainted the first time I had to do a dissection in HS and my parents kind of realized it was not meant to be. I wanted to major in journalism at college and then go to law school after working as a foreign correspondent for a while. My parents wanted me to study computers (we are talking the mid 70’s here and I had and still have no interest in how computers function). I got my way because I paid my own way. I studied journalism, poli sci and history and became a lawyer.</p>
<p>My cousin really wanted to be a CPA, like his dad. His mom, whose brother was a famous doctor in his field, felt CPA was not good enough for her son (though it was good enough for her H). His mom is a force of nature and because they were paying his way, he had to take the courses she insisted on for pre-med. He convinced her to let him take accounting classes so he could make sure he wasn’t being cheated by his employees. </p>
<p>Anyway, when the time came for the MCATs, my cousin deliberately did so poorly that he couldn’t even get in to Guadalajara (Ross didn’t exist yet). He told me he on purpose failed because it was the only way he could stand up to his mom. She was heartbroken and still talks about his “bad day” over 30 years later. He, OTOH, took the CPA exam and passed all six parts at one time (apparently, this is quite an accomplishment).</p>
<p>As a result of my history growing up, I have not tried to push my children any way although I have spoken to them about being able to support themselves and their family.</p>
<p>Good luck with your parents but, remember, there’s always the old MCAT dump, which works just as well for the LSAT and the GRE.</p>
<p>I tell myself that when/if I become a parent, I won’t force them to do anything, either.</p>
<p>Yeah, I know you have to make a living, but life isn’t life without any fun, and I’d rather have a job that I really enjoy and am passionate about but only pays a little, vs. a high-paying job where I stare a computer all day and grow fat. I’m trying not to imagine the part where I can’t afford my mortgage, but anyway …</p>
<p>True. But you will admit that the main hurdle to becoming a doctor is getting into med school. It’s not that hard to graduate with barely-passing grades. Similarly, anyone who matriculates at Harvard should consider themselves a future Harvard grad(barring some horrible accident or disaster).</p>