Parents pressuring sister to major in "something useful".

SmithieandProud
Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:28:08 +0000

I think it’s fine if your sister wants to pursue Film Studies. I think it’s fine if your parents want her to think practically about what kind of job she wants after she graduates. But rather than try to get her to do something she’s not interested in, she and they should try to collaborate about what kinds of jobs are available for film studies majors. Has she ever thought about film historian, film preservationist, or even film critic? The Smithsonian has jobs for such people, but you need the internship and museum studies expereince to back it up. There area lso other film museums or historical museums where she could pursue this work, but again, she’ll need the internship expereince to back it up if she wants to do something she’ll enjoy. If you think she’d make a good film critic, then encourage her to keep a blog of critical reviews of movies she sees, encourage her to wirte for the school newspaper reviewing movies (perhaps even reviewing classic movies for the college student). Tell her about places like AFI and the Film Preservation Institute in California where people work to preserve and present classic movies to a new generation.

Basically, it’s good for parents to encourage kids to think practically because most kids indulge in magical thinking where if they just want something, it will happen. When it takes hard work and preparation to achieve a job in any field, especially a small one. So let her follow her passions, but also help her find information about how to turn those interests and hobbies into something practical. And always hold out hope that ownce she gets to college she’ll discover something not seen before!