Clashing perspectives between just finding a job and following your passion

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The discussion centers on the tension between parental expectations and personal career aspirations, particularly in the context of an Asian background. The individual is facing pressure from their parents to switch from chemical engineering to statistics due to concerns about job prospects for international students with PhDs. The parents prioritize finding a stable, well-paying job, influenced by stories of graduates struggling to find employment. In contrast, there is encouragement from others to pursue passions, suggesting that success will follow. The conversation highlights the strong job prospects in chemical engineering without the necessity of a PhD, emphasizing the importance of personal choice in career decisions and the need for parental support in pursuing one's own path, regardless of the field.
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I come from Asian ethnicity, and my parents constantly want me to switch from chem e to stats. from what they've seen, a lot of international students get a phd in something, and they can't find jobs afterward. The main concern for them seems to be to simply find a good paying job and settling down. And I've heard some bad horror stories

On the other hand, people other than my parents and outside their little Asian group tell young people to follow their passions and success will follow. To a certain extent, that's true as well. But then again, there is this green card issue.

just curious, what's your perspective?
 
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Chemical engineering has some of the best job prospects out there, and I'm pretty sure you don't need a PhD in it. You can't let your parents decide your life for you. Tell them that it's your life. They should support your choice, even if you become an art major.
 

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