Parents generally believe it is their responsibility to plan the careers for their children. They claim that they know their children well enough to decide what kind of job suits them. Hoping that their children will go in for professions that will bring them the greatest prestige and economic benefit, many parents think that their children are too young to see this for themselves. There are some parents who even expect their children to take over the careers of their fathers. For these reasons, many parents insist that their children should obey them in choosing careers.
But many children suggest that they should be left free to choose their own careers. For one thing, parents and children may not share the same interest. A job that appeals is likely to be boring for their children. For another, children have been brought up in a different age from their parents', and therefore, should be allowed to cultivate a spirit of independence and self-reliance. In short, children should be free to make their own decisions as to future careers.
In my opinion, in this case as in many other things, mutual understanding is important. On the one hand, parents' view does reflect their concern for the well-being of their children. On the other hand, after all it is the children who will be doing the jobs. Therefore, it will be wise for parents to give them this freedom while for the children they should consult their parents when it is necessary.
