I finally have to admit my dad was right about my art school dream

My dad told me 10 years ago that going to art school was a waste of money for what I wanted to do. I got so mad at him, told him he didn't get it. But last week I was talking to my old classmate Kevin who actually went to that same school I was looking at, and he said he's still paying off $40,000 in loans and works at a print shop. It hit different hearing it from someone who lived it, not my dad trying to crush my dream. Has anyone else had a parent's advice turn out to be right way later?

3 comments

3 Comments

amy_anderson5d agoMost Upvoted

Wait, was it just the money thing that got to you, or did he also say something about the actual career side of it? Because I always think back to my dad telling me "nobody's gonna pay you to draw cats all day" and yeah that hurt at 18 but now I realize he was trying to say the job market for fine arts is brutal no matter how talented you are. Seeing Kevin's situation makes me wonder how much of it was your dad just being practical versus him actually not believing in your art. What was the main point he kept hammering on back then?

patricia_gonzalez5d ago

Hold up, your dad actually said that to you about drawing cats? That's harsh, ngl, makes my old man's rants about "starving artist with a paintbrush" sound almost gentle by comparison. Honestly, the main point my dad kept hammering was less about the art itself and more about how I was gonna support myself, like he'd just flat out ask who was gonna pay my bills if my gallery show flopped.

the_alice4d ago

Oh man, that Kevin conversation must've stung. My buddy Rick spent 60 grand on a film degree and now he sells insurance like his dad did, just with way more debt.