As a child, your goals and expectations may closely align with your parents’. As you get older, you may find that your personal goals begin to differ from your family’s expectations. When that happens, it can create tension in your relationship with your family, and your parents in particular. Here are a few tips to help balance family expectations with your personal goals.
Clearly Separate Your Goals from Their Expectations
Many students hear from a young age that they need to go to college. Some are told they need to become a doctor or lawyer. Or that they need to be able to support themselves as soon as they complete college. After hearing these things so often, it may become difficult for students to separate their goals from their parents’ expectations. Take a step back and really look at what you want to do and accomplish in life. Identify what you want, not necessarily what you think your parents expect you to do. It will be much harder to be happy long term if you don’t have clear ownership of your goals.
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