Why Parents Are Pushing STEM Careers for the Next Generation

The conversation between parents and children often reveals contrasting perspectives on career choices. One parent encourages following passions, while the other stresses the importance of financial security and competitiveness in a changing world.

[beatrixkiddo]

My parents cried and begged me not to go for Social Work. Aftermath: worked in adult psych ward for 8yrs. Literally dropped dead at 32 from being frightened/startled. Got fired cuz patients can't handle a sub while I was in recovery (with a defibrillator). Got paid in love, hate and accolades. I'm not cleared to medically return to work and 100% dependent on my husband, a heavy equipment operator working 80+ a week.

HE'S NOT LYING!!!

[HugoTheGOAT]

All my life I heard "go into STEM, you’ll never have to look for a job!”.

In 2024, there was the largest number of layoffs in the tech sector since the Dot Com Crash of the 90s.

This is also true for those trying to find Science and engineering-related jobs.

No one wants to acknowledge that certain sectors of the economy are already experiencing a recession, while people like Elon, Vivek, and PBD sit on their ivory towers and tell us we’re dumb and lazy and uneducated.

Wasn’t my fault your generation over saturated the market with STEM majors at the same time Corporate America decided it would rather offshore/automate their workers or hire cheap immigrant labor than invest in the quality of their workforce 🤷‍♂️

[larzooma]

Hey I was a Philosophy major and I work making 6 figures in a STEM profession. Took my now wife being pregnant to push myself into that career but like he said when you have a wife you love and children you love all that matters is taking care of them. Dreams are nice when you have no responsibilities.

I always tell my kids to major in something that leads to a career but minor in philosophy so you can learn to think properly.

[MrHellenas]

Pbd is a good character actor. It will be even better when he plays the supportive mommy, to be also dressed as one

[ClaireRedman-zr]

My grandfather in Hungary insistes His children go for a Carrer to work AND a second for your pasión to be a well rounded, enriched person. Worked out well. You could do one whole you get the job you wanted😊

[Texas]

Passion rarely . . . puts food on the table.

[Rabbithole]

It breaks my heart when I have an extremely gifted student and they say they wanna be a singer, dancer, athlete. Kids nowadays really want to just make money doing recreation instead of an occupation.
As long as outcomes are calculated and choreographed, there is no true competition .

[kaipheki]

Plato would say: "Utopia situation is like: when every single individual has a right to do the job that they are the best at or have an interest in." Money or passion? That is the question.

[CatalinaFOIA]

Teaching is not a good profession if you are trying to make a decent living and have a family. I wouldn't advocate this profession: speaking as a 14 year teacher who finally got out. Teachers no longer have those amazing pensions for retirement either. Those are long gone.

[eltonkdre]

This man started as a snake oil salesman. He made his money in MLM which he refers to as his "insurance business"... Then he says he's an honest Christian...

[tmcneil]

Do your fine arts to relieve stress from your high-paying job!

[gdaddy]

I told my daughters ... Learn to be a cashier and wait tables. If one day your life falls apart. You'll always be able to find a job. My wife has degrees in Elementary ed and Special Ed. She student taught it for 6 months before she learned she hated it. She went back to the company she worked for in College. Almost 40 years later she's retiring as an executive from a Biomedical corporation. She's also known as an expert in the field. She learned it all on the job ... She started out in client service ... Answering phones.

[bamanature]

True if you go that route..people knew that before they graduated...it's all how you market it...if you work for the museums and the establishment then yeah but with the social media being wide open use that to supplement your income..

[rjsophia]

My daughter got a degree in psychology and a certificate in Gerontology. She thought she would go into nursing home administration with a MBA in healthcare management. She got an email from Merrill Lynch to interview for financial advisor. She and her partner moved to Morgan Stanley a few years ago. She makes boatloads of money. 😂

[col.cottonhill]

Get a load of this guy. Tells kids to go into STEM. Meanwhile he supports H1B visas which drop the wages for these careers. Ask anyone who works in tech who is American born not foreign. Stop misleading people about the visas PBD.

[Mano_]

School teacher isn’t a bad job. They make 100k here in Cali and only work 8 months out of the year

[SD-kotz]

Not everyone has a talent for stem. Many do not

[GordyDeedee]

Both my daughters went thru STEM
Both are gainfully employed ❤

[SH-nvcm]

So are you discouraging people seeking lower paying jobs. Like teaching? Or are you trying to promote other cultures and say they are better stuarts than american culture so tycoons can hire on work VISA and not pay hire wages to American workers?

[michaeltrudell]

What did Taylor Swift do? How did you get to were you are? Consider "Rich Dad Poor Dad"! Use your mind!😎