<p>So my entire life I have planned on being a scientist, and that is what my parents have "trained" me for from taking extra science classes to getting me tours of labs. It has always come easy to me so I just assumed that is what I would go into. But on the other hand I have always loved children. When I was at daycare I would much rather hang out in the preschool area than with kids of my own age group. The past two years I have been working at Kumon (a tutoring center) and I absolutely love it. I look forward to going into work every single day and watching these young kids learn so much makes me really happy. But my love of science has almost disappeared. I still think it's incredibly interesting but it makes me more stressed out than happy.</p>
<p>I'm kind of at a loss now because I know that I want to be a preschool teacher. I just don't know how to tell my parents because I don't want to disappoint them. They say my taste is too expensive to be a teacher but that's not the only thing that matters right? Isn't my happiness more important?</p>
<p>Are you a college graduate? Are you still in college?</p>
<p>I am actually a high school senior but I am applying to colleges as a biology major.</p>
<p>I have a friend in my teaching program in your situation-- parents set her on path to become a doctor, until she decided she wanted to use her biology major to teach high school. The important thing is showing a) your happiness, and b) your success with it. Explain to them not only how happy it makes you, but specific accomplishments you’ve achieved! Ex. Joshua didn’t understand math at all and I showed him how to do addition, it was amazing! He’s improved so much! Make it clear that you know what you’re doing and you have a pathway figured out. On the other hand, you’re so young, you don’t need a path right now. But it sounds like your parents will like to know what your plan is. You’re right, happiness is more important. </p>
<p>There are a lot of potential career paths out there. You should pursue your education and keep your eyes open for opportunities to interact with the little kids you love! Don’t limit yourself to only those you careers know about now. For example, there is a field called “child life” which means you work with children who are hospitalized or having medical procedures to help them cooperate or give emotional support. You might get interested in child development research, and could pursue this research as a college professor, but still get to hang around with preschoolers. </p>