Imagine you step into your family holiday party. As soon as you walk through the door, the existential dread hits you like a brick wall. You know it's coming, so you try to avoid your older relatives at all costs. Sooner or later the time will come when you have to face the thing you've been dreading the most all night: the never-ending questions about what you're going to do with your life.

I cannot tell you how many times I've been asked my major/career choice and have been given a sullen "oh... that's nice" in return. Yes, I am a journalism major and yes I know that employees in that career path particularly do not get paid a substantial amount. Do I care? Not one bit.

My mother raised me to follow my dreams, not hers. This began as a child when I wanted to grow up to be an artist so she went out and bought me a plethora of art supplies. Then suddenly one day I decided I didn't want to be an artist anymore and she was perfectly okay with it. When I wanted to quit dance because I felt like it wasn't for me, she supported my decision. I told her I wanted to be like my brother and play soccer so she signed me up the next day and started training me. I wish more people of the older generation could get it through their heads that you can't force your child to live out your dreams that you failed to fulfill. You have to promote and support your child's dreams no matter how big or small.

I've wanted to be a lot of things when I grew up. Anything from a fashion designer, journalist, nurse, and even a commercial pilot. I know not every one of my relatives supports my career and school decisions and I'm okay with that because at the end of the day if I can say I'm 100 percent happy with my choices, then that's all that matters.

So to the older generation: yes it's good that your granddaughter/son is going to become a doctor or a lawyer, but please for the love of all things holy stop belittling my career aspirations and bragging. Congratulations to them, but I really could care less.