“What do you mean a degree isn’t important?”
I’ll never forget my parents’ faces when I first told them that getting a degree wasn’t necessarily a priority for me. Then I graduated, became an economist, and honestly lost count of how many like-minded people I met at university. I often gave long talks about why I thought college wasn’t that crucial, but in the end, it turned out to be one of the best times of my life.
I’m not saying it fully prepared me for life, but I don’t regret how things turned out. Even today, when the topic of degrees comes up, they look at me puzzled that I still feel this way as an adult. Meanwhile, we hear countless success stories of people who only have a high school diploma.
“Why don’t you listen to those with more experience?”
“A smart person learns from others’ mistakes, a fool from their own,” the saying goes, but honestly, that feels outdated and maybe never really true. What’s wrong with learning by living—making mistakes, falling down, getting back up? Many parents see it differently and, perhaps out of overprotection, use this saying to warn their kids.
But experience can’t be taken away from anyone, and it’s much harder to face certain challenges as an adult if you missed out on learning them earlier. Maybe your parents are confused by some of your choices, and that can shake your confidence—but trust yourself! Even if you make mistakes, you’re gaining experience that will guide you in the right direction.
“Why them?”
Let’s be honest: every parent imagines the perfect partner for their child. Then they’re shocked when the actual choice turns out differently. Some say we pick partners who remind us of the opposite-sex parent because we seek familiar, safe feelings.
Of course, sometimes this theory falls apart, and you come home with a rockstar-looking knight. Then your mom wonders, “Where did we go wrong?” Nowhere! They just need to accept that you don’t necessarily need the person they dreamed of for you. Every kid tries to live up to their parents’ expectations—but only until they realize they need to live for themselves.
“You still don’t want a husband and kids??”
Many young people in their thirties struggle with dating. Some fulfill their parents’ dreams early on by giving them grandchildren, while others choose a different path. This doesn’t mean they’re closed off to starting a family—just that the time hasn’t come yet, or they haven’t found the right partner to imagine their life with. Neither choice is better or worse; we don’t all have to live the same life, and parents need to understand that too (parents included).
Take women who want to build careers or simply don’t feel emotionally ready to have children. I see this as a responsible choice. In many families, it’s hard to imagine someone choosing to live life without a husband or kids. But whatever you decide, make sure it’s your decision—because you only get one life, and it’s not worth spending it trying to please others instead of yourself.
