By Onyi M.
As a child, I used to tell my mom, “Let me do my own thing.” I wish she had let me.I admire and I’m inspired by Ifeanyi Dike JR because he is young and he’s getting to do all he wants- or like he would say explore his talents- while still pursuing formal eductaion inMedecine. At his age I didnt have that privilege or if I did, I didn’t take it. Talents-wise, Ifeanyi and I have a lot in common but in my case, it all boiled down to doing what my parents wanted or thought was right for me.
I would have loved to go in to the arts right from the get go; in fact, it was obvious to everyone around me that that was what I was cut out for. But back then, as Laolu pointed out, parents wanted Lawyers and Doctors. So I toed the Science line. It was not all that great for me because while it was something I easily scaled through with just the required effort on my part, I hated it.
Soon after university, where I got a Bachelors in Microbiology I started doing my own thing. In some areas it was too late but thankfully, in others I managed. Even though now I am doing something I love, I sometimes wish for those days so I could have “started young ” and learnt early from my mistakes. Who knows, probably by now I would be thoroughly established- or bombed because I came out to early. We never know.
Still, each time I meet kids who are struggling with “my parents’ choice vs. my own”, I always advise them to stand their ground: it’s your life, you career, your mistakes to make and regret if ever and your victory to share, hopefully. And to the parents I say, why don’t you let your kid explore their talents? You never know, he might just make it. Gone are the days where those in the Arts were considered paupers and ne’er do wells. Now they make enough money to employ their own doctors and lawyers (BTW, can a doctor or lawyer own his own musician? I kid.)
Rather than projecting your fears on your kids, why not identify their strengths (talent-wise or whatever) and spend your money and time nurturing them in that direction. You could do your research and find out the many options where the strength might be profitable to them because in the long run it all boils down to money and prosperity. No parent wants their child to be out of work or penniless at a certain age. But we do not know, we can’t tell the future. Better that your child is doing what makes him happy, gives him fulfillment if not lots of money than wasting years making money at something that makes him totally miserable.
That’s my five kobo. What do you think?
Women + Girls 