High School Students Speak Out on Career Pressure from Parents

Group Photo © Askanwi

By Edward Francis Dalliah, Jr.

High school students spoke out about the pressure they face from parents when choosing their career paths, revealing that many are being forced to balance their personal ambitions with family expectations.

The concerns were raised during a career guidance engagement organised by the Hope for the Future Foundation at the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) on Saturday, 23rd May 2026.

The event brought together 120 high school students from 21 schools across the Greater Banjul Area (GBA) for discussions on career planning, personal development, and the challenges affecting their future aspirations under the theme: “The Power of Hard Work and Discipline.”

During one of the question-and-answer sessions, several students openly shared the difficulties they encounter when trying to pursue careers they are passionate about, saying their parents often push them toward different professions.

Speaking to our reporter after the session, Fatou Jabang, a student of St. Peter’s Technical and Senior Secondary School said she struggles to reconcile her dreams with the expectations of her parents.

“I have dreams that I want to pursue, and there are certain things that I am actually good at, but my parents actually want a different thing,” she said.

Jabang explained that the engagement helped her better understand the importance of pursuing her strengths and talents.

She told our reporter “from the session, I learned that not everything that your parents want is what you should follow, [rather] you should follow what you are good at.”

Audience © Askanwi

The Founder and Executive Director of Hope for the Future Foundation, Rosamond Erica Johnson, said the engagement exposed a growing concern among students who feel unable to pursue careers they are passionate about because of parental influence.

Ms Johnson noted that the concerns raised by the students revealed that “some of them are controlled and ruled by their parents [and] can not follow what they are passionate about.”

She further noted that many students repeatedly expressed the concern that “we can not do this because our parents can’t allow us.”

Ms Johnson stressed the need for more engagement with parents on career guidance issues, arguing that parents should support rather than impose career decisions on their children.

She noted that although the parents are “the ones who gave birth to the children, but that doesn't mean in terms of their career path, you are to direct them.” Rather she said, “parents should act as guidance to their children but don't need to impose what they don't want them to be.”

She added “You don't need to make them wear a shoe that is not their size.” The issue was also highlighted by one of the guest speakers, Jeremiah Swora from Freetown, who shared his personal experience with the students.

Mr Swora said his “father wanted him to become a lawyer while he was passionate about soccer.” Despite the pressure, he said he “fought hard to pursue his dream of becoming a soccer player.”

He, therefore, encouraged students to remain passionate, disciplined, and committed to their education in order to achieve their goals.

The concerns raised during the engagement reflect broader societal challenges many young people face in balancing respect for parental authority with pursuing careers aligned with their interests, talents, and ambitions.