It really is unfortunate when you go into a profession and your parents don’t support you. I don’t mean that they have abandoned me on the sidewalk and told me to get out. I am saying that I am being told to get a “stable” job that I know won’t make me happy. I am not saying, by any means, that I have it harder than anyone else. I am just saying that it really hurts to know that no matter how hard I try and no matter what I do to make things the best that they can be that I am being questioned about my major.

For those of you who don’t know, I am a theatre major with an emphasis in costumes. I have worked hard to where I am now and it has been awesome to get all the opportunities that I have received. I don’t take any of that for granted.

My parents, when I told them I wanted to be a doctor for about 8 years of my life, told me that they were happy that I would be getting money and all of that. At the age of 14-15 I decided I didn’t want to do that and just be an artist. When I turned 17 I knew I wanted to be in theatre, not the acting side but the behind-the-scenes side. I told my parents and they were less than excited. I have since had great opportunities and have made amazing friends. I have also been happier where I am now than when I was more sheltered than I already was, if that makes any sense.

Today’s Conversation:

Me: I guess it is a good thing I didn’t do my internship since I wouldn’t get paid and I also have no car. [I have no car because there isn’t one for me to practice in right now]

Mom: You just need to find another job, like a business one.

Me: Why?

I don’t remember what my mom said after but I thought she supported me. I guess not. My parents have never come to a show except the children’s play that I somewhat made them come to so that they could see what I did. I thought it was opening their eyes. Apparently because I haven’t done an internship that is paid that they don’t understand that the way of theatre is that you do free labor as it is kind of like “paying your dues”.

Right now I am just feeling hurt and don’t understand that just because I don’t work for some fancy business that I am seen as a person who needs another job or profession.

-Fleeting Mermaid