Dear Eddie,
I'm a 27-year-old Burmese dude living with his parents. Four years ago, I was studying abroad and living that college life to the fullest until my parents forced me to come back to take care of them and their business.
I managed to finish my diploma abroad, but I couldn't stay there to get my degree because my parents suddenly became very sick.
Since I'm the only child, I'm expected to take care of them. I didn’t have a good relationship with my parents growing up; even in my middle and high-school years I stayed with cousin’s family to avoid spending time with them as much as I could because of their toxicity and harmful way of disciplining.
Fast-forward to today: it has been seven years since I came back and I seriously miss my time abroad. The people, the culture; I couldn't stop holding onto those short memories from the time.
Is it possible for a nearly 30-year-old guy to return to college and be able to fit in? I've missed out on a huge chunk of my youth to take care of my parents. I do not resent them for it, but I do get annoyed sometimes thinking about it.
Tell me Ed: Is it weird for me to go back to college? Will it be weird for an introvert like me trying to fit in? I have so much more I want to ask but right now this is all my brain can process at 4am while sitting in my room.
Yours sincerely,
Anonymous
Dear Dutiful Son,
I really felt your pain and frustration after reading this. I just think it's pretty badass of you to want to go back to school.
Remember that Burmese saying about how education is a huge ass golden pot and your age doesn't matter in attaining said pot? Or something along those lines.
So I'll start off this ed-vice by answering your question about college. Go for it! I am literally writing this as I myself am leaving home tomorrow to continue my studies. It has been two years since I dropped out.
The decision to return to school is a scary one, but you're gonna fit right back in. If you're worried about not being able to relate to the young’uns, just fill yourself in on a lot of Netflix shows, a meme group called Subtle Asian Traits and Billie Eilish.
One thing I would only suggest is to let go of the instant ramen college life. You can be a college student at 27, have fun and eat like a grown up...as you should. Anyways, I'm going off topic.
Now, your parents: I seriously applaud you for what you have had to let go of in order to care of your parents. I imagine it is neither an easy nor pleasant task.
And as much as I like to think of myself as a progressive cosmopolite, I acknowledge the east does still have a tradition of strong familial ties.
You have talked about how you used to stay with your cousin's family because of a strained relationship with your parents. However, I genuinely hope that during the years of looking after them and their business, you have unknowingly reconciled.
Burmese parents are so inarticulate and generally not expressive of their feelings, but I'm sure they appreciate you. They might never let you know that, but I'm sure of it.
Because you have spent these years for the purpose of looking after them, it is only fair that you return to college if you want to. Plus, aren't parents crazy about degrees?
Also, this should totally be a melancholic comedy-drama that premieres at indie film festivals and wins awards and stuff.
Yours sincerely (and I mean it),
Eddie
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