My parents thought having a degree alone will land you a job. By the time I graduated, the paradigm had shifted and interviewers are asking if I had any previous work experience to prove that I have good work ethic. Problem is, growing up, my parents never allowed me to work so I never had anything to show for. Even after graduation, they advised me getting any jobs “underneath” me. It took awhile before I went against my parents advise and finally getting a job related to my degree. The trails of bad advise did not even stop at job-seeking but that will be another long story.

In any case, I realised that my parents are a bunch of insecure nouveau riche (they grew up poor and I can sense they have hint of elitism now that they moved up the socioeconomic ladder) who did not set me up for life well. I told myself I won’t listen to them and rail against them giving me any more advise. I think they realised their mistakes a bit too late now.