Should parents choose their childrens career for them?
On One Hand: Parents’ Input Can Be BeneficialTo a degree, a parent’s insight is invaluable. Parents may see hidden talents or abilities in their child as well as recognize limitations, and can provide excellent career advice. Many parents who financially support college students feel a vested interest in the success of their child and believe input into choosing a career is a return on the investment.On the Other: Selecting a Career Is a Personal ChoiceChoosing the right career path can be a remarkable source of lifelong fulfillment. However, the long-term implications of working at a job chosen by someone else, even by well-meaning parents, can be disastrous. Aside from possibly despising a career field imposed by parents, a significant burden of stress may be placed on children to live up to parental expectations. “Helicopter parents” who hover over and micromanage kids’ lives by selecting colleges or pushing careers for them can stymie maturation and greatly diminish self-esteem, sa
