How to Succeed in Life

“What are we going to do about her? She finishes high school this year, and then goes to college, maybe, if she even chooses to,” his voice was strained and full of concern.

“I don’t know honey, I just don’t know!” she sounded worried.

“She has absolutely no ambition for anything that matters anyways! Where will writing random stories that she never lets anyone read get her in life? I can tell you where: a place that doesn’t exist!” he was so loud that he was nearly yelling.

“Maybe she’ll go into business…” now she was just making a silly attempt to calm her husband down, which, in reality, only made him even more frustrated.

“Alicia isn’t going to go into business! It doesn’t matter how many times we tell ourselves that she might go into business, we both know that she isn’t going to! She wouldn’t succeed in that field anyway…” Solely from the sounds he made and the tone of his voice, it was obvious that he was holding back tears.

“Honey, you don’t know that…” But he was right. He was always right when it came to Alicia.

“Her head is in the clouds! She needs to snap back to reality! She needs…She needs…” He began to sob. It hurt him immensely, that his one and only child, his pride and joy, his baby, didn’t want to make a good life for herself.

“She needs our love and support for whatever decision she makes.” She whispered softly into his ear.

On the other side of the door to the kitchen, Alicia was listening to every word her parents said. All he cares about is that I go into precious business. Well maybe I don’t want to! She buried her face in her hands. Little did her mother and father know, that day she had received her acceptance letter from Yale. She was planning on telling them that night at dinner, as a surprise. And tell them she did.

Dinner was quiet. Nobody really talked. Her father eventually spoke up. “Alicia, have you done any more thinking about going to college?” He had a faint smile upon his lips. It was clear that he cared for her, and only wanted what was best for her. She swallowed her last bite, cleared her throat, and said:

“Look on the counter,” her voice was somewhat bitter, her expression indifferent. He got up from his seat and approached the counter. Next to the toaster, was a single sheet of paper that was folded. He opened it. His gaze shifted to his daughter, and let out a small gasp.

“Alicia, this is a letter from Yale.” Her expression didn’t change.

“Read it” He read it and a broad smile came across his face.

“This…this can’t be…” he mumbled. His wife looked at him with a puzzled expression upon her face. “this says you’ve been accepted at Yale.”

Alicia’s face didn’t change. “Alicia, I owe you an apology. I wanted you to follow in my footsteps and that was wrong of me. Whatever school you go to, whatever program you go into, your mother and I will support you every step of the way.”

An enormous smile stretched across Alicia’s face, she sprang from her chair and gave her father and mother a big hug, with tears of joy in her eyes.