My son struggles with depression and anxiety. He has a math degree from UCLA and became an AP high school math teacher. After a couple of years, he was miserable, then suicidal, Things got so bad, he qualified for short term disability. The school didn’t renew his contract, but by then he knew he didn’t want to teach anymore.

He’s gone back to community college and is studying filmmaking. My family thinks he’s a train wreck. My sister, after hearing about his participation in an out patient psychiatric program, his thrice weekly therapy sessions, and his transcranial treatments said, “Doesn’t he realize he’s failing at adulting?” I hung up on her and didn’t speak to her for four months.

I’m proud of my son. He didn’t stick with the conventional idea that a steady job with benefits is enough. He refused to settle for what people expected. He’s got dreams and he’s going after them.