It sounds like you promoting a very typical “screw what your parents say. Follow your dreams!” narrative. I’m no stranger to that attitude. When I was younger I sunk everything I had into my dreams. I took a college major with no real job prospects. But, I loved it so fuck it right? I took jobs that paid little to nothing but I still was eyes deep in my pain working hard towards my dreams so who cares? I dedicated hours and years of my life to being something greater and made sure all of friends and family knew about it because I was proud to go against the grain instead of playing it safe. I was young headstrong and had no fear of failure because failing means learning and learning makes one stronger. The result is I have nothing. I’m thousands of dollars in crippling debt from student loans in my late twenties with a son of my own desperately trying to dig myself out of the whole I’ve dug for myself and by extension my son.

Still, I believe there’s is nothing wrong with taking a risk to find happiness. But, success in life takes planning and careful decision making it’s more than hard work and passion. You need a plan B a way to stand up and bounce back should you fail. Follow your parents advice take the safe route. Find a skill that is in demand and can provide some security. Then build a life for yourself. Get a place to live, pay your bills, save money and avoid debt at all costs.

All the while you’re doing these things however you should follow your passion in your spare time. Make a list of conditions that must be met in order for you to quit your job and do what you really want. Robert Kirkman-the creator of The Walking Dead- is an excellent example of this. Instead of putting everything into wiring comic books he got a day job in a warehouse he worked hard and wrote comics in his spare time. Eventually he moved up to the position of buyer which afforded him more free time to work on his comics. Eventually his comics began to turn a profit. And when the day came that he could finally pay his bills doing what he loved he quit his day job and eventually turned into a mega success.

Kirkman’s story is not the norm. Many people who take this strategy and never are able to quit their day job. But, so do many people who follow their dreams blindly. The difference is if Kirkman never sold a single book he could still have lived comfortably with no regrets. While me I’m struggling to get my life together.

I’m not ashamed of my mistakes nor do I harbor many regrets. But, I will be teaching my son not only the value of hard work but also the value of pragmatic decision making and planning for his future. I don’t want him or anyone else to make the same mistakes I did.