Charles Gardner

Week 5 Assignment

Ms. Ashley Stahl video

TEDx Talks

Today’s generation of parents often guide their high school children to idealize college in order
to obtain prestigious employment. There are instances where parents take control of their child’s path
by forcing or persuading them to pursue a degree plan that coincides with their own values. Conversely,
some parents encourage their kid to find their own path but insist college is the only avenue to provide
the tools for a “successful” career. I have a daughter who is currently in the 9 th grade at Anderson High
School; her mom and I have already started the discussion to discover what her strengths and passions
are and how they can be translated into an enjoyable career. It is my belief to encourage her to find
something she is passionate about but also provide financial security to manage unnecessary external
stressors.

The video hits close to home in this aspect. Ashley Stahl eloquently stated in the video “Do
something that you are. Not just what you love.” (Stahl, TEDx Talks, 2014). The correlation between
these powerful words of wisdom from such a young woman and my approach with my own child is
uncanny. Just last week I had a conversation with Lily (my daughter) about some long-term goals she
may have to brainstorm some possible avenues upon graduation of high school. A little background, Lily
is extremely smart; she is artistic and loves to paint, draw and graphic design. She does not like to play
sports which is the opposite of myself. During this conversation we were able to identify different
opportunities she could pursue in a realm that she would really enjoy. We began researching possible
scenarios where she would not only be comfortable financially but also retain the passion she has with
her art. My Great-Grandfather, Leo Murphy, was a well-renowned artist in Cincinnati; his artwork can
still be seen hanging in the Cincinnati Art Museum and his famous outdoor mural in Greenhills has been
deemed a historical stillmage by the Ohio History Connection. (Ohio History Connection, 2010). This new
information sparked a lot of newly found interest in Lily. I have experienced jobs that I absolutely hated
and it drained me of my happiness at times. Ms. Stahl’s four points to finding a career through passion
instead of reason connected with me directly. My current career, as discussed numerous times
throughout the weeks, is built on the foundation of passion and my own belief system. I expressed to
Lily that enjoying what you do for work is an absolute necessity that outweighs any salary or
compensation plan, citing examples from my own life and the video exclusively. I was ecstatic to see a
young woman such as Ms. Stahl sharing this view rather than conforming to ideals that may be held by
the traditional family unit. She does a great job connecting with the audience by providing examples
from her own experiences and instilling a view of happiness and contentment in regard to career choice,
insisting money should not be the primary focus. In closing, I explained to Lily a few careers she could
investigate further that mimics her strengths (recognized by both herself and people around her) and
can even exploit a nice paycheck. There are Graphic Designers making hundreds of thousands of dollars
a year simply working from home as a private contractor, responsibilities which include logo design,
market design etc. The way society can now operate more independently from paid corporation
employee positions, Lily was stoked to know she CAN obtain financial security and freedom exclusive to
those who do not work the traditional eight to five job. I took advantage of this video to help my
daughter identify something that I was not given, a viewpoint of independence and success.
 Works Cited

Ohio History Connection. (2010, April 13). Leo Murphy, Artist. Retrieved September 27, 2020, from
https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p267401coll34/id/5608/

TEDx Talks. (2014, February 23). Three Questions to unlock your authentic career: Ashley Stahl at
TEDxBerkeley. https://youtu.be/vMiSf7LpFQE