Dear Annie: I am a high school senior trying to decide where to go to college, and I feel completely torn. My parents have made it very clear that they want me to study business. They both work in finance, and they keep saying that a business degree will “set me up for success.”
The problem is, I do not want to study business. What I really love is art. I have been painting since I was little, and I spend every free moment in the art room at school. I have even won a few local competitions, and my art teacher thinks I could get into a strong fine arts program. But every time I bring it up at home, my parents shut it down. They tell me art is a hobby, not a career.
I know they mean well. But I feel like they are not listening to me. The idea of spending four years studying something I do not care about makes me feel defeated before I have even started.
How do I stand up for what I want without disappointing the people who love me? Is there a way to make them see that following my passion does not mean I am being reckless? — Torn Between Business and Brushes
Dear Business and Brushes: Your parents love you and want you to have a stable future. That comes from care, not control. But stability and happiness are not the same thing, and choosing one does not mean giving up the other.
You do not have to reject their advice, but you should expand on it. Many artists find smart ways to blend creativity with business. For example, minoring in marketing or design management may give you knowledge that helps you succeed even further in your future art career.
The key is to show your parents that you are not chasing a fantasy; you are building a future that includes both passion and practicality.
Read more Dear Annie and other advice columns.
“How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology — featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit Creators Publishing for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.
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