I can’t vouch for the complete accuracy of this transcript. But it went something like this.
Teacher: “So what are you going to do for a career dear?”
Daughter (14): “Oh, I don’t know… Nothing. Everything.”
Teacher: “That’s not an answer. What do you mean?”
Daughter (14): “Sit on a beach somewhere. Work as a freelancer. Blog in my underwear.”
Teacher: “Oh dear… That’s not a proper job. How will you earn money?”
Daughter (14): “Not sure. I’d like to be earning a small passive income somehow. Perhaps from my blog and online shop.”
Teacher: “Yes… but what are you going to do?”
Daughter (14): “Whatever I want.”
Teacher: “Yes, but what about a job? A career?”
Daughter (14): [Sighs] “Actually Miss, I’m thinking about going to university. I’d like to be a lawyer or an accountant or a doctor.”
Teacher: “Oh, that’s nice! Good for you!”
Everything and nothing…! 😉
Another example of the limiting conversations teachers end up having with kids, but with a modern twist. It used to be when girls said “I want to be a rocket scientist, or Prime Minister”, we got convinced we should settle and be happy being teachers or nurses.
I heard this week that research shows that up until their teens, both boys and girls have an equal interest in doing maths and science subjects, but as teen girls start to look at career options in their teens, they don’t see empowering, supportive female role models in maths or science fields, so many drift away from those fields, and choose their subjects based on some other profession where there are more obvious role models.
Good on Triny for having such aspirations and being unafraid of going after them!
Yes… Thanks R!
So true!