I was the photographer at a wedding last week. There, I met a young lady that was the make up artist for the day. Her dilemma was that she loved doing make up but she was going to go to law school because she felt that doing make up wasn’t a real career. It wasn’t all her fault. She came from a family where success was defined by how many degrees you toted or what kind of car rolled in your driveway.
I only had a few minutes to speak to her, but I tried to tell her that she had the opportunity to define who she was and what it meant to be a makeup artist.
I understood her predicament all too well.
Coming from a Caribbean family, there is always the pressure to become a doctor or a lawyer or some other successful professional. When I mentioned to my mother that I wanted to be a photographer, she said to me that I was so smart and that she wishes that I would do something that used my brain. Instead of going into it with her then about how difficult running a photography business was and that the actual art of photography only made up five percent of what I had to do, I vowed to myself that I would never be just a photographer.
I would create my own definition and continue to do the unexpected.
My favorite example of this is Tyra Banks. While I find her absolutely annoying, I love what she has accomplished as a “model.” She’s built an entire empire when it was unheard of a model doing such things.
People will always have try to give you a label, but it’s up to you to define what it means.
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Rhona
2 years ago
You are so right Shannon. Coming from a Caribbean background also, I totally understand the pressures of becoming a professional something or the other. I am in a professional field but no way do I have a career defining title either in front of or behind my name. I know my parents were a bit disappointed about this but at this point, I feel comfortable wight who I am. Am I happy with that? NO! But, I will change it….one day.
P.S., I love this blog. It makes me think but also smile or laugh a lot. Thanks!
Rhona´s last blog ..Going back to Germany update
shannon
2 years ago
I tried really really hard to do the corporate thing, but it just wasn’t me. I know that many people would have killed to have my job. However, I like this one much better even if it doesn’t sound as fancy.
(Thanks so much for reading the blog. Comments like yours help me keep on going.)
Nicki Sunshine
2 years ago
I think that by doing what you want to do vs. your parents want you to do is the best thing to do. It’s a very hard thing to accomplish but in the end, YOU are the one living your life.
I would hate for you to wake up one day when you are in your 50s and feel completely LOST and unfulfilled.
Your parents will understand it later.
shannon
2 years ago
Yeah, I definitely know it’s about me and my happiness. Hence me quitting my job and doing what I want. My parents get that they don’t get me and it works, lol.
Cynthia
2 years ago
I agree. I’m currently trying to set up my freelance graphic design business and find my niche because I just don’t want to be like everyone else. I have suckered myself out of it a lot and now I’m determined to do that. I want to pursue my business, go back to school (in an art related field) AND live abroad. All I plan on doing next year (if everything works out).
Good blog. I’ll poke around some more.
Cynthia´s last blog ..
shannon
2 years ago
Just do it! I’ve been meaning to write a post about just starting and let things figure themselves out. You don’t need a huge plan. Just start. Where do abroad do you want to live?
(Thanks for checking out my blog.)
Viajera
2 years ago
I hear you on that one about “using your brain”. My mother almost wanted to throw my sister out when she announced in high school that she wanted to be a chef. In a Caribbean parent’s mind, that definitely doesn’t call for brain work. :S
I hope she takes your advice and doesn’t go and grind herself into the ground working at a career which kills her soul. Too many of us have pleased our parents and fallen into that sinkhole.
shannon
2 years ago
Hopefully your sister will follow her own path. That’s the only way she’ll ever be happy. It’s amazing to know exactly what you want to do in high school. I think many of us to, but we get a little bit older and cast our dreams to the side.