Liberation can come in many shapes and forms. The one I contemplated was the liberation from my family’s expectations. Like everybody at the end of secondary education, I had to decide what I wanted to do with my life. ‘What are you studying after graduation?’ had become the new ‘Hello, how are you?’ and I tried to avoid that question as much as I could. While my family did not pressure me into a specific career, they all – either explicitly or implicitly – let me in on their ideas about suitable degrees, careers, and lifestyles. Initially, I tried to meet their expectations but shortly realised that this was impossible. In the end, I opted for my own happiness. Was it easy? No. Did it feel bad at times? Yes. But was it worth it? Definitely.
