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Do your dreams differ from your parents’ expectations?

“I really want to go to NYU to study the arts. My parents want me to go to medical school because they’re both nurses. I used to really want that, but then I started doing art and painting and drawing and I realized that’s what I really want to do.”
Victor Beteta, 17, University HS
“I want to be a fashion designer or a writer. But my parents say that those are just pastimes, not real jobs. If it’s not anything to do with medical stuff they tell me no.”
Cassidy Palacios, 14, Bravo Medical Magnet HS
“My mom and dad put a lot of pressure on me in school. I’m planning to become a police officer, but my mom and dad say no because it’s too dangerous. But I want to make this a better community for everyone.”
Carlos Martinez, 14, Bravo Medical Magnet HS
“My father really doesn’t have any expectations for me. I want to be a sports announcer. He’s constantly putting me down, saying I’m not even going to attend college. It makes me feel bad because I work really hard in school.”
Jeremy Guaman, 13, Bravo Medical Magnet HS
“They always want me to do something huge. When I told them that I really want to be a journalist, my mom said, “No, you should be the editor of a newspaper.” I’m not mad that they want huge things for me, but I’m happy with something simple.”
Yejean Kim, 17, Arcadia HS
“My parents tried to keep me away from what I want to do—going into the Army Reserves for nursing. My mom was like, ‘No, you’re going to get called away to Iraq.’ But after basic training, I’m going to nursing school. When they realized it’s what I wanted to do, they didn’t try to stop me. My dad said he’d let me figure it out and do what I want to do.”
Caitlin Bryan, 18, Los Angeles Valley College