If I were Deana, how would you address your family’s criticisms of and attitudes about higher education?

In order to get my parents to listen, I have to play by their rules. I would simply set my parents down and have a deep discussion. I would want my parents to know first off that nothing could replace them. I would need to also let them know that I would rather them work in helping me succeed rather than trying to help me to fail. Knowing that I am the only one to pursue a higher education makes me aware of my parent’s decisions. I would address that being prejudice against my decision is just plain mean. I would ask my parents why they did not attend college themselves. I would ask them to tell me if they got to make the choice or if someone else made the choice for them. After hearing their explanation I would only ask one more question and hope that there is an impact. How did that make you feel? Rather they made the decision or not there has to be a positive or negative side in which I am sure that I could make them feel a connection about my decision. I would simply return criticism and a little persuasion about my attitude of wanting a higher education.

How would you dispel their fears, and try to convince the family member that going to college is a worthwhile endeavor?

My family may be happy in the choices made and their own decisions. However, I have my own plans of attending college so I would show my parents my goals before, during, and after college. First thing I would address is that stereotyping me, rather than encouraging me on my decision could push me further away. Instead they should give me a chance to better myself. I want my parents to fully understand my reasoning for college is for career reasoning in the long run. However, now I want to use college to teach me responsibility, control, and other useful tools that I can take with me during, after school, and with my everyday choices. In order for my family to dispel their fears they will have to be willing to give it a chance and I would explain to them how important college is to me. To convince parents that are prejudice may be difficult so I would need to use urging and facts to explain my interest in college. I would want my parents to realize the difference in income, availability, and stability of a job now and a job after college. I would make my parents aware of the economy, and what the jobs are like without furthering my education. I would want my parents to see the jobs that are being laid off. The same ones that  I have been qualified to work in. I would want my parents to realize that in order to fulfill my career goals without later regrets that college is involved. I may be more convincing showing the different career choices that I am interested in and show the estimate of income with facts to show that college is well worth the time. Maybe after putting up a fight my parents will be at ease and realize I am making the right judgment.