"“Be a doctor!”" | Apr 27 08
Categorized in Family/Friends, Life.
When hearing this for 485126th time from my parents, I can’t help but utter, “Well, slicing open bodies, stabbing needles into others for vaccination, and delivering bad news to family members along the lines of ‘I’m sorry, he didn’t make it’ hasn’t been something I’m looking forward to in the next 15 years.”
And then they retort with a, “Hey! You’d be saving peoples’ lives here. And making a bunch of moolah to boot! There was this one time where I was checked up by a doctor for only 2 minutes, and I payed the man $300 bucks. Imagine the money!”
And then I respond with, “Parental units, as much as I’d like to earn all this said MOOLAH, the term doctor and the name Austin don’t roll well together. And I’m sorry, I can’t take up an occupation that doesn’t flow with my name. It’s almost unheard of.”
And, in reply, they say, “With your study skills, with your grades, with your large head, you’d surely make it into medical school. Hell, I’ll even sell the house just for you to attend medical school.”
“Dad, Mom, please. As grateful as I am that you’re willing to sell the house for me to be a doctor, as grateful that I am that you want the best intentions for me, and as grateful as I am that you do not threaten me to scrub behind the toilet, despite how filthy and uncharted that territory is, I just don’t want to be a doctor.”
Their response: “Be a fucking doctor.”
REWIND! And play the more accurate dialogue of the conversation taken place:
(after hushed conversations)
Parent(s): Austin, be a doctor.
Me: Why?
Parent(s): They save peoples’ lives. They make a lot of money. They rock our world.
Me: Dad, I just really don’t have the intention of going into the medical field.
Parent(s): Come on, with your grades and your study skills, you’d surely get into medical school.
Me (jokingly): Honestly, really, I’d rather be a garbage man or one of those people who juggle real estate signs on the corner of the street. They do make $40 an hour, right Billy?
Billy (brother): For surely!
Parent(s): Son, just be a doctor.
As accurate, exact, and veridical this conversation is, I’m not quite sure how believable it is for parents to use the phrase “rock our world.” So, excluding that single part, every thing else is quite authentic, in terms of what was actually said. I’m not well aware of the hourly wages of garbage men or those who flip real estate signs on the corner of busy intersections, you see.
What profession would you like to pursue? Or, if you are already in your dream profession, what is it and why did you choose it? And, do you have people who flip signs on the corner of the street? Or is it only where I seem to live?
Apr Mon 08 at 2:31 pm , Alex Says:
Wow, our parents are really similar… It’s quite scary. I’d like to pursue being a psychologist/journalist/band director. For college, I plan to double major in psychology/writing and minor in music education. It’s a lot to do, but I might as well take advantage of the subjects that I’m passionate in. It’s strange how psychologists go to medical school along with other kinds of doctors, but my parents don’t believe that psychologists are doctors.
They also say that if I’m a band director or journalist, I’ll be living in a cardboard box with nothing to eat. 
Apr Mon 08 at 10:23 pm , morgan Says:
Oh. My. God. You just summed up my whole body of conversation with my parents at the dinner table on Chinese New Years perfectly. And the family friends usually side with the parental units, making everything more difficult.
To be honest with you, I don’t really want to have a life of 9 to 5 work with pumping God knows what into peoples arms and feeling other people up for their pulses. Asian parents have this notion that doctors earn tonnes of money and therefore will lead to a better life for us.
Maybe I’ll pursue a degree in psychology. Or do something wacky (or… not?), like… be a director! Or maybe I’ll be one of those incredibly rich people who have heaps of spare time on their hands to do whatever they want because they’re pro at juggling stocks and their business(es). Now there’s an idea.
Apr Mon 08 at 10:52 pm , Deborah Says:
Unfortunately, I want to be a doctor
My parents probably brainwashed me while I was asleep. 
I would think something ‘fun’ (even though slicing someone open is pretty fun indeed) like doing design or something along those lines.
Oh BTW, to get textures, I just simply type textures (or more specifically ‘paper textures’ in google images. Thats the easy way to get things.
Heres the link to the texture: http://hem.bredband.net/notum/old_paper.jpg
Apr Tue 08 at 8:33 am , Sarai Says:
My parents always, always suggest for me to be a doctor. Or an accountant. Even after I switched my major to History they would _still_ suggest it.
May Thu 08 at 6:32 pm , Alex Says:
ROFL!
I think it’s the opposite way around with me. I WANT to be a physician , or a dentist. My parents have disagreed with me being a dentist, but they encourage me to become a Doctor. I honestly don’t know what I want to do, but I think I’d have to consider medicine, law, or business (really big where I live, and my brother’s taking it, so. :]).
May Sat 08 at 10:13 pm , morgan Says:
Muahaha.
I stole your link rollover effect. Thanks for inspiring me, Austin.
May Sun 08 at 7:55 am , Kathy Says:
LOL, sorry. I meant 1 PM, not 1 AM. I would never have the determination to walk for 16 hours…are you kidding me!?
I go through the same torture 500 times a year! I hate the fact that they’re always trying to control our lives. When I tell them that I would rather want to go into a field that I’d enjoy being part of for the rest of my life and that the money will come after, they start yabbing about the war and all the opportunities they couldn’t have.
Asian parents, I tell you…it’s stereotypical to say that asians always become doctors. But for the most part, it’s true. It’s because the parents are controlling their children’s lives!
Was your father speaking in English or Vietnamese? I do find it hard to believe that he said “rock our world.”
LOL, moolah. Such a funny sounding word.
Sorry for the long comment! I get so angry when I think about this topic…I can seriously write a 5-page essay on how badly I do NOT want to become a doctor!
May Sun 08 at 10:41 am , Erin Says:
Geez, I’m glad my parents don’t pressure me into pursuing career paths I don’t want to take. I’m sure they’d like it if I decided to become a doctor, or take some other position with an impressive name that pays lots, but now I think they’re settling for the fact that school-wise, I’ve done better than their two other children. Perhaps if I became I chemistry professor and did some groundbreaking research (like I say is my ultimate goal), that would make them proud. But right now, I’m just going to double major in chemistry and secondary education because I like chemistry, I like learning, and I like helping others learn.
May Sun 08 at 11:57 pm , morgan Says:
‘Rents is out-dated, just like ‘phat’ and ‘moolah’. It’s just Dimwit trying to be cool, again. You know, failing to use ‘teenage slang’.
You worship MY writing style? I’m flattered, really, but I think I learnt half of my vocabulary off you. Austin, an inspiration to us all. Woo.
May Sun 08 at 11:58 pm , morgan Says:
And STFU-P cracked me up big time.
May Mon 08 at 12:11 pm , Jessica Says:
LOL…I still don’t have any idea what I want to be…but I don’t think my Mom really cares what I become…as long as I actually finish something. Major Problem with Me.
Jun Wed 08 at 12:04 pm , Clem Says:
My parents don’t really care what I am… within reason, of course, but we’ve never hard an argument about my future. We’ve discussed it briefly, and they’re pretty much, “Whatever makes you happy!”
Jun Sat 08 at 12:29 am , Freefalling » Not exactly what I was going for Says:
[...] leads to extreme confusion. Mom (Vietnamese): “Austin, since you don’t appeal to the idea of being a doctor, what would you like to be when you grow [...]
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