<p>I agree with what everyone else has said. You should follow your dreams and do what you feel is best.</p>
<p>Yet, when talking to your aunts and uncles, be polite. It’s usually not good to burn bridges behind you.</p>
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<p>There aren’t a lot of jobs out there for pure “linguists” (other than in academia) . . . but there are ample opportunities in various branches of the government (including foreign services and intelligence services) for people with those kinds of language skills. So you might want to point out to your more critical family members that even though what you’re studying may seem pointless to them, you could end up having your choice of very well paid jobs. “Linguistics,” standing alone, might not make sense to them, but “linguistics + job” might impress them enough that they’ll back down a bit.</p>
<p>I agree with everyone here, sounds like your extended family has a bad case of sour grapes. Dodgersmom suggestion is a good one. If you search a bit you’ll find that there are some significant scholarships available if you’re willing to work for the government and learn particular languages. Even if you’re not so interested in competing for the scholarship, it would be a good idea to check into those programs. Some offer employment post graduation, or at least have in the past.</p>
<p>You can check these out for starters: <a href=“https://www.cia.gov/careers/student-opportunities/undergraduate-scholarship-program.html[/url]”>https://www.cia.gov/careers/student-opportunities/undergraduate-scholarship-program.html</a> and <a href=“https://www.cia.gov/careers/student-opportunities/undergraduate-co-op-program-open-source-officers.html[/url]”>https://www.cia.gov/careers/student-opportunities/undergraduate-co-op-program-open-source-officers.html</a>.</p>
<p>There are very good job opportunities for linguists working for the intelligence community such as FBI, CIA and NSA.</p>
<p>Your post notes your college education is nearly cost-free to you, so you’re not a financial burden upon your immediate family. Please continue your college education uninterrupted, without family-imposed feelings of guilt, and don’t feel compelled to leave to help on the family farm. Yes, your extended family may desire your free labor, but neither the farm nor your family “own” you. Your interests extend far beyond the farm. I understand the farm community dynamic where “saving the family farm” becomes the first priority for the extended family without regard to personal goals and ambitions, but that doesn’t mean you’re under the obligation to conform to that rigid (and single-minded) expectation. Some relatives can feel that a family member is “getting too big for their britches” when they don’t conform to the group-think family expectations. These relatives are being selfish too.</p>
<p>You might want to take a look at a thread I started recently titled [Do</a> farmers want their kids to get a college education](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1459481-do-farmers-want-their-kids-get-college-education.html?highlight=farmers]Do”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1459481-do-farmers-want-their-kids-get-college-education.html?highlight=farmers).</p>
<p>Stay in school! You are not obliged to be involved in your family’s business unless that is solely your choice. You are not an indentured servant.</p>
<p>My husband faced a similar issue, his family even refusing to help him fund his college while his sisters had a free ride. It took him 7 years but he did it, working every other semester. He still has resentment towards his family.</p>
<p>As a small business owner whose husband would love it if one of our children would be part of the family business, I say follow your dream and stay in school. Maybe the farm should be looked at as a safety net , but I hope you don’t cave to the pressure .</p>
<p>Thank you all for the replies and great advice. This really is a tough situation, and I have to say that I’m leaning towards the school side. It just can be really hard to leave the farming circle when you’ve always been in it, and I just hope that I’m not too far in. </p>
<p>Also, thanks for the career suggestions. I will definitely be looking into that and I will try sharing this info with my family.</p>
<p>I would suggest that you stay in school.</p>
<p>Getting a degree will prepare yourself better for the future, whether that may be continuing the family farming business or another career path. After dropping out of school, it will be more difficult to return to school, so you should try to finish college if possible.</p>
<p>I have returned to helping my parents run the family business after I completed college. College has taught me many things that have helped me make better decisions, even though I do not seem to realize it.</p>
<p>I know this thread is from last month, but I read it after reading the OPs newest thread. I noticed this:</p>
<p><a href=“except%20for%20two%20who%20moved%20states%20to%20work%20for%20big%20companies”>quote</a>
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<p>So, you have cousins who have left for jobs, do people complain about them?</p>
<p>Also, it may very well be that after 1-2-5-10 years away, you do decide to work on the family farm. Maybe you have an around the world linguistic adventure and then come home to work the farm and raise a family? Maybe you never come back. Either way, the farm pays you for your time, it can pay someone else for that time.</p>
<p>I know a couple of people who have planned to go into the family business, one always planned for it and did not pursue his dreams, then the parents lost the business and the guy was too far along with life & family to go back to those dreams. He still resents it.</p>
<p>Don’t go back until you are ready or you will resent it.</p>