Parental obsession with STEM & Medicine

[Anonymous]

Wow--this thread blows my mind. So the major goal of education is to make a lot of money, regardless of interest, fulfillment, or happiness? And every smart kid should do STEM because chances are that while your job will be drudgery at least it will be lucrative? Folks, is that really your dream for your kid?

I insisted throughout grade school and high school that I was going into STEM until a couple of teachers in their own ways woke me up to what I really wanted to do, and my parents encouraged me throughout to do what I loved (bonus if I could do it on scholarship).

Years later, DH and I are both in (different) professions that sound exceptionally impractical, where the jobs are few in number and the salaries comparatively low. I am indeed doing what I figured out as a teenager. We're not rich, but we have everything we need and everything I want, along with a great deal of freedom. I am still grateful every day for the way I make my living.

Could I have survived in a more lucrative field? Yep. Looking back, do I wish I had? Nope. There's really nothing different I would do with a higher income, and my job satisfaction is worth way more to me. If DCs want to choose something totally "impractical" we will absolutely encourage it: all we ask is that they really dedicate themselves to it.

[Anonymous]

I have a MD in my family that was put through the ringer. None of his kids, my cousins, went into medicine (but could have) and I didn't either.

I don't envy my friends that are MDs and can't take vacation, have trouble seeing their kids during waking hours. No thanks. Fwiw I make the same amount of money as them but as a business owner have so much more flexibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kudos to your parents that made your life. The success that you think is yours, is actually theirs. Are you unhappy? It is not because you are a doctor. It is because you lack imagination. At least you are not a burden on society and your parents.

Good job, parents!! You turned a sow's ear into a silk purse!!!

What is this, Mulan? Go choke on a pumpkin spice latte, you shrew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kudos to your parents that made your life. The success that you think is yours, is actually theirs. Are you unhappy? It is not because you are a doctor. It is because you lack imagination. At least you are not a burden on society and your parents.

Good job, parents!! You turned a sow's ear into a silk purse!!!

Thanks.

Unless we make our kids’ lives completely miserable we have failed.

-Tiger Mom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a MD in my family that was put through the ringer. None of his kids, my cousins, went into medicine (but could have) and I didn't either.

I don't envy my friends that are MDs and can't take vacation, have trouble seeing their kids during waking hours. No thanks. Fwiw I make the same amount of money as them but as a business owner have so much more flexibility.

My sibling has a government hospital/clinic job, works 8-5, on call maybe a few weekends a year and one month in in-patient. They take two-two week vacations and no debt as parents paid for college and medical school.

[Anonymous]

Make sure you major in somethi bc cthst will get you a job!

Nothing more stupid than spending $$$ for 4 years of higher eduacation and can’t find a job as an art history or philosophy major. Or being paid $20K when you paid $250K for your degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a MD in my family that was put through the ringer. None of his kids, my cousins, went into medicine (but could have) and I didn't either.

I don't envy my friends that are MDs and can't take vacation, have trouble seeing their kids during waking hours. No thanks. Fwiw I make the same amount of money as them but as a business owner have so much more flexibility.

My sibling has a government hospital/clinic job, works 8-5, on call maybe a few weekends a year and one month in in-patient. They take two-two week vacations and no debt as parents paid for college and medical school.

I need more than 2 weeks a year. Europeans get like 4 to 6 weeks per year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Make sure you major in somethi bc cthst will get you a job!

Nothing more stupid than spending $$$ for 4 years of higher eduacation and can’t find a job as an art history or philosophy major. Or being paid $20K when you paid $250K for your degree.

+1 The ultimate stupid move.

[Anonymous]

Clearly OP is trolling all of you.