Crossroads: Career Choice

The prompt is “no matter what he chose, someone’s life would change.” I started writing this about two months ago, but I was about halfway through when the story had changed. I realized then that I was actually writing two different stories. So, I split them up. Come back next week for the other story that came from this prompt.

Andy was the son of a top tier investment banker and a successful surgeon. Growing up he was expected to be the best at everything he encountered, and he always tried his best to reach those expectations. No one ever doubted his goals in life. either banking or a doctor, both parents would have been happy.

All through high school he got the top grades and became valedictorian. He was able to apply to the top schools in the country. He still hadn’t decided which path he would choose yet. He just knew it would be a lot of hard work. When he picked his parents’ alma mater they were thrilled.

Since he was undecided, he took his basic freshman classes with an extra business class and a science class to see what he was interested in more. Out of all his classes as time went on, he was surprised to find that his writing comprehension class was not only his best subject but also the one he enjoyed the most. By the end of the first semester his professor had encouraged him to take an additional writing class in the next semester. Andy agreed and dropped the extra science class because he hadn’t liked that much at all. When he explained this to his parents, they understood not pursuing being a doctor but were a little confused about the writing course.

Andy excelled at the writing course and was offered a spot on the collage newspaper. His advisor helped him take courses that would expand his writing skills but kept some business courses. Sitting down with his parents that summer that he was no longer pursuing a banking career shocked them. When he told them about wanting to become a writer or journalist, they were sure he was throwing away his life. He told them that he was still going to minor in business so that no one would take advantage later in life.

It took another two years for his parents to come around. They were so sure writing was a mistake they had threatened to pull collage funding. But then they read some of his material. They also saw how happy he was becoming by finding his own thing he was good at. After graduation Andy published his first of a series of books and had a freelance journalist business as well. In a way he felt like he had become more successful than his parents had.