What Should I Do My Parents Are Forcing Me To Go To College Even If I Don’t Want To?

Contrary to movies and TV shows, college is not always easy for everyone, and this can be one of the reasons why you feel scared to enter this new phase in life. College is a diverse playground that will help shape your mind and body into the adult you want to be in the future. Let’s see What Should I Do My Parents Are Forcing Me To Go To College Even If I Don’t Want To

What Should I Do My Parents Are Forcing Me To Go To College Even If I Don’t Want To?

What Should I Do My Parents Are Forcing Me To Go To College Even If I Don’t Want To?

As your Parents are primary caregivers in life they want you to be the best version of yourself in every aspect of life so only the are forcing you to go College even if you don’t want to go . Coincidentally, graduating with a college degree now equals being a better human being. It is highly untrue, and yet there is immense pressure on kids and young adults these days to follow the set path of going to college right after school.

While you can truly learn and master various skills at school, college is where you get a chance to test-run these tricks with a trial-and-error approach. It helps build both your mind and heart to face new challenges in your life. But is attending college necessary in your life?

Is College Important In Your Life?

Unfortunately, not everyone gets a chance to go to college. And if they are lucky enough to do so, not all manage to pass with flying colours every time. College is a life experience that can differ from individual to individual. It can be based on multiple factors including a person’s lifestyle, environment, financial ability, and ability to understand social cues around them. It’s a stepping stage into adulthood. 

So, while not everyone is cut out for college right away, people often delay the process in many ways. You can either choose to take a gap year/s to figure out what you want to do in life or start working right away to earn money instead. Some often take trips and excursions across the globe to rediscover their passions and adventure into new hobbies. 

A break might even influence you into joining college to follow the same interests professionally. Multiple celebrities and notable people in every field have achieved fame and success in life by skipping college altogether such as Steve Jobs, Oprah, Ashton Kutcher, Steven Madden, Ellen DeGeneres, Brad Pitt, Steven Spielberg and many more.

3 Ways to Convince Your Parents About Not Attending College

1. Explain and Appeal

There is always a reason for not wanting to do something in life. It could be anything. Either financial problems, travel restrictions, health problems, mental anxiety of an unfamiliar environment or plain old fear of fitting in a new world all over again.

And while your parents want the best of the best for you, they may have faced struggles during their college life. Try to influence their emotional side by explaining why the idea of college does not appeal to you right now. 

Although there is no guarantee that they will accept your decision in the first conversation, keep trying to convince them. You can also explain why you wish to push the college to the back burner for now as you focus on other aspects of your life. This might also help put their mind at ease, knowing you don’t truly hate the idea of college and just need some time to figure things out.

2. Understand their POV

It might also be easier to steer the conversation if you can understand why your parents want you to attend college. Usually, there are two outlooks on college: emotional and practical. Logically, a college degree can help you secure a stable job, giving you the necessary financial independence. For some it can be about following a generational tradition of attending the same college. It could also be because they never had the opportunity to attend college and now want you to be able to enjoy it on their behalf. 

These are good enough reasons in their perspective but might not reflect your thoughts and ideas. Understanding why they want you to go to college might help you convince them why you are hesitant and wish to do things differently.

3. Accept the choices

While you are an adult, ready to venture into the big world, there might be things holding you back. Depending on your life right now, maybe you can afford to take a gap year or travel with enough funds to learn new skills and develop yourself. It might be trickier to talk to them if you have no means to support yourself financially but try your best.

It then becomes your duty and mission to convince your parents why you choose to do this instead of picking a college. It can be very frustrating to try and change their mind about your life choices. It might take a while before your parents accept your choices, but don’t lose hope. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is no right or wrong in going to college. Besides how much your parents force you to attend, if you are unwilling, the experience will end up negatively affecting various aspects of your life and health. Keep trying to find new ways to help push your dreams and wishes till they finally realize your true intentions.

FAQs
  • When should I tell my parents?

It is best to have this conversation in a comfortable environment. Knowing it can be a tricky conversation, make ample time to talk it out with your parents clearly and confidently. If you’re feeling nervous, practice with friends or by yourself using a pros and cons list to help you explain your reasons in a calm and organized manner. Seeing your confidence and resolve might also help your parents understand your POV and convince them quicker.

  • What can I do instead of going to college?

You can take a gap year to travel, work, volunteer, or do community work. You can also choose to study subjects and topics you are keen on virtually / online via websites around the world instead of going to college. While it is not entirely an official college, you will still be learning something new in an educational setting.