Dylan

Thanks for your thoughtful comment. It seems you’ve already done some deep thinking and work, and have some exciting decisions ahead of you! So many possibilities.

It’s not uncommon for parents and their kids, who both usually share the desire of wanting the child(ren) to have the best life possible, to have different ideas about the strategy for creating that best life. While my bias is toward doing what we love, it’s also true that parents often have practical advice, life experience, and wisdom to offer. Each of us has to determine how these factors weigh into our decisions. Whatever the case, it sounds like you’ll be of age to leave home soon, and that major transition (and likely increased independence and responsibility) may bring additional change in perspective.

In cases where we’re faced with challenging societal and economic life situations, there may be a bit more initial discomfort associated with pursuing what we love the most. We each need to decide how badly we want to pursue what we love, and what temporary discomforts or inconveniences we’re willing to endure to create the reality we desire. (Although some, like Eckhart Tolle, suggest ways to reduce discomfort by accepting or surrendering to the present while still taking action to create change.) And having family and friends to encourage us in the longer run is never a guarantee—we may expect them to do so, and become annoyed because they “should” do it more, but they may or may not follow through. As we pursue our dreams with great energy, we’re more likely to connect with many amazing new people who support us, but the responsibility to get and keep the ball rolling ultimately falls upon us. This is the case whether we already have cheerleaders at the starting line or not.

As you probably know, guidance doesn’t give answers, but offers powerful questions and observations that encourage you to be fully honest with yourself and uncover the answers from within. Your post suggests you’ve already started this process on your own. While reading and research can offer a great deal, have you also explored interactive approaches like guidance counseling through your school? If those services aren’t readily available, a favorite teacher might be able to offer suggestions. Coaching, of course, is something I frequently endorse, but coaches (myself included) generally require consent/support from parents of anyone under 18.

Also know that while some people identify a single area of strong passion early in their education and stick with it for the rest of their career, others choose to focus on a few different areas—either at different phases of their career, or simultaneously. Whatever you decide, congratulations on taking a proactive approach to taking on these exciting questions! I have no doubt you’ll create some powerful energy in the world, whichever path you choose.

While I hope this has inspired some useful thought, you are welcome to discard or ignore any part of it that’s not useful to you.

Best wishes,
Dave