Ok, I really want to do engineering/commerce, using engineering as a back up degree in case I don't find work in a bank or investment firm.
But my mum, she's totally against engineering and is fixed on me doing dentistry at University of Melbourne. She says if I do engineering, and it becomes my career I will be earning very little and that's if I find a job. She is convinced that I will HAVE to work for the RTA with civil or electrical engineering. She says that dentistry will mean I have a great future ahead of me with lots of money. Engineering for her, is a no where degree. When I told her I wanted to do actuary, she absolutely forbid me to do it because she's convinced I will not pass the final exam and never find work.
The problem is, I don't want to learn medicine related fields. I'm a person who finds it hard to be well outwardly compassionate and I'm often told I have little facial expression.
While engineering is only going to be a back up for me, it's going to be a degree I do because I want to enjoy the physics and maths in it. I really enjoy maths, and the best thing is I'm doing well in it. I am from Sydney Grammar and am in the top 10 at least for maths, topping the last assessment. In physics I am ranking top 20. The problem is, despite this, she thinks I won't find work as an engineer and is scared shitless when I said I wanted to do commerce and investment banking or risk management related areas.
She says I don't understand what the world is like, and that if I do dentistry I will thank her later for it. But I don't like medicine which is a big problem because I don't want to end up 40 with money but doing a job I hate and knowing that I will spend the next 20 years doing what I hate.
If I did what I wanted to do, I'd be doing pure maths and physics, but I realise that down those paths is little money relative to applied maths and physics.
What do I do????
If I go to Melbourne for dentistry, I'm not sure if I can get a combined degree wtih something I do like!! ><
Btw if you haven't guessed yet, my parents are asian.
I am grateful for the investment they have given to me for a great education, but I think if I do what I love to do, maths and physics, that I will do well in the course and enjoy a happier life albeit with less money.