Hi Kally,

Love your articles and especially Word of Advice when you and your readers give such great constructive feedback.

I am finding myself a little dilemma here. I have been working at my family business for many years. It is in the antique business and our company hires like 40 old timer staff that has been around even before I was born. My father inherited the company from my grandfather and he was hoping that I fill his shoes one day when he is ready to retire. I love antiques, the blood runs in the family and I truly enjoy spending all my holidays and spare time working alongside with my father and the rest of the family.

This summer I received a scholarship offer from another country. When I applied for an art scholarship, I didn’t give a second thought. It was my art teacher who encouraged me to submit to a few schools in Europe. My father actually had made plans for me to stop school after I graduate from college and start learning my business ropes from him and my uncle.

What do I do? Scholarships are hard to come by especially in a small town like mine and I do really want to complete my studies as well as take this rare opportunity to travel. Can you believe that I have never step outside of my sleepy town?? But I couldn’t disappoint my father who held so much hope for me and I am the only child in the family.

I have been hiding the letter of offer under my mattress. I’m not going to be the cause of his heart attack anytime soon!!

Seeking for help,
Elijah F

Dear Elijah,

First of all, you are a good kid. I don’t know many kids out there nowadays who would place their family’s wants and hopes above their own, so you are a rare find.

Secondly, you need to think through long and hard about continuing your studies. As much as I always advocate studies are extremely important, you need to know that deep down inside you that you have the interest and passion for studying the subject you have chosen and not just because your art teacher says so. If you manage to get a scholarship, you are probably downplaying your talent in your email to me. However, even the most talented will waste their life away if they are not committed to hone their skills.

If you are determined that it is your passion then you should go ahead and pursue this seriously. Your family business isn’t going to go away just because you are going away for 3 to 5 years to invest in your passion. Have a good sit down talk with your father. You are young and you deserve to dabble in your interest and find out what you really want and who you really are.

This will be your first adult decision and depend on the way you handle it will display your maturity in front of your family.

I wish you all the best and write to me soon to let me know how the talk goes.

Regards,
Kally@MiddleMe.net