What Our Parents Wanted Us To Be Vs. What We Ended Up Being

Because we wouldn't be where we are today without them. U.S. Bank is highlighting all of the interesting career paths Asian Americans are pursuing for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month!

Our parents only want the best for us. But sometimes their idea of success doesn't match our own.

This is especially true in the Asian-Pacific American community, so we asked some Asian Americans to talk about it. Here's what they had to say:

Courtesy of Cindy Joung

What my parents wanted me to do: "Doctor, of course, but once I decided against med school, my father really pushed me to be an entrepreneur. I think as an immigrant who started his own businesses he valued the idea of working for yourself."

What I ended up doing: "Product manager at an internet company."

—Cindy J.

Courtesy of John Fuentes

What my parents wanted me to do: "My parents really wanted me to be a nurse, and I actually studied to be one for three years, but then I shifted to culinary later on."

What I ended up doing: "Executive Chef at a French restaurant in NYC."

—John F.

Courtesy of Sam Han

What my parents wanted me to do: "Something that would allow me to be financially stable."

What I ended up being: "Artist."

—Sam H.

Courtesy of Jay Mahapatra

What my parents wanted me to do: "Lawyer like my brother so we could start Mahapatra and Mahapatra law. He wanted to be an architect but became a lawyer. He still wants to be an architect; he is 41."

What I ended up doing: "I am a digital analyst. I analyze social media and web data for a PR/Comms agency."

—Jay M.

Courtesy of Jessea Young

What my parents wanted me to do: "My parents did not press any career upon me, but they fostered my love of reading and learning. They focused on ensuring I was a well-rounded but compassionate woman."

What I ended up doing: "I am an academic librarian in Los Angeles focusing on the accessibility of academic publications for research communities in underserved and developing areas."

—Jessea Y.

Courtesy of Seashia Vang

What my parents wanted me to do: "Wanted me to be a doctor, pharmacist, dentist...anything stereotypically 'Asian.'"

What I ended up doing:

"Work for a non-profit that conducts research and advocacy on human rights, paint pictures of rats, and invest in cryptocurrency."

—Seashia V.

Courtesy of Kirk Damato

What my parents wanted me to do: "According to my parents, my older brother would be a doctor, and I would be a lawyer."

What I ended up doing:

"I'm a writer and puppeteer. LOL."

—Kirk D.

Courtesy of Melissa Boyer

What my parents wanted me to do: "As long as we were happy and successful, they didn't care."

What I ended up doing: "Kindergarten teacher."

—Melissa B.

Courtesy of Priya Mathew

What my parents wanted me to be: "A doctor, a lawyer, the CEO of a Fortune 500 company."

What I ended up being: "I am an editorial producer at a major news publication."

—Priya M.

Courtesy of Tyler Haruta

What my parents wanted me to do: "A concert pianist. They even sent me to an intense music school for it from the age of 4 to about 18!"

What I ended up doing: "Though I didn't stick with classical piano, I'm still very involved in music! I write songs, play a variety of instruments, and have put out two albums independently. I also work as an advertising creative producer and writer."

—Tyler H.

Courtesy of Ashley Baccam

What my parents wanted me to be: "A lawyer, because they just knew I couldn't be a doctor."

What I ended up doing: "I'm literally that viral article that says, 'Immigrant Mom Didn't Move Here So You Could Sit In A Cubicle And Make Memes.'"

—Ashley B.

Though our paths might've diverged from what our parents wanted for us, we couldn't have gotten where we are without them. Celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month with U.S. Bank and check out all the cool careers Asian Americans are pursuing in 2018!