Dear Diary, it wasn't love

1

Dear Diary,

The sign expressing Portland, Oregon's deepest and most-appreciative welcome becomes clear ahead.

Mom certainly does not look excited as she grips onto the wheel ever-so-tightly and in complete silence. Our three-hour-or-so car ride is about to come to its long-lived end as we round the corner into the campus of Portland State University.

"Are you sure about this, sweetheart?"

"Mom, I am only a three-hour car ride away. You know how important this is to me."

My mother is definitely not happy that I chose to transfer to another University during my second-year. With the mention of me wanting to attend Portland State and leave the University of Washington, she had almost turned blue in the face. In her opinion, I am willingly leaving a prestigious University, in exchange for a lesser one.

Her words, not mine.

My parents, better known as Geraldine and Greyson Salinger - of Salinger Group, one of the largest corporate funding institutions in our healthcare system – are two world-class surgeons who work in their very own hospital, Salinger Memorial Medical Centre.

For as long as I could remember, they had my career paved out for me. As anybody can guess, I am expected to become a doctor and work under them until I can take over for them. However, what my parents fail to realize is that I would rather pave my own path.

When I think back to my many conversations about what I would do with my future, all I can remember is the scowl on my mother's face. Needless to say, neither she or dad approved of anything less than a doctoral field; which is why for as long as I could remember, I have been studying the courses that they pre-approve, as well as enrolled in the program of their choice.

My brothers, on the other hand, they each work as accountants. They often do some work in the Daniels' New York firm, as well as oversee the hospital's finances.

Did my mother and father even try to fight Connor and Colton on their profession?

No. That was saved entirely for me.

After what seemed like months of begging, my father had finally agreed to let me relocate to Portland to finish the rest of my undergrad. However, what my parents are unaware of, is that I not only switched schools, but I switched programs as well.

I have always carried an interest in Public Relations, which is why I secretly applied for a transfer in credits and my minor, weeks ago. Luckily for me, Portland State has one of the strongest PR and Marketing backgrounds, that I couldn't be happier to accept.

I am sure that anyone can imagine why this little detail of my life needs to be hidden from a family like mine. I could just imagine it: sitting at a table and explaining to mom and dad that this is my career path. Hearing them laugh in my face and telling me what a waste of potential it would be to work for the likes of a celebrity; someone who makes their profit by acting, singing, or playing a sport. My parents could never believe how money is given to those who do not particularly earn it, as they would say.

"We save lives every day and make the world a better and safer place, darling. We deserve our hard-earned money."

Great. They earn it, while Tom Brady and Tom Hanks definitely do not.

Mom pulls forward into the new and luxurious twenty-three-story apartment complex that she insisted I stay in. She began searching for appropriate places for me to stay as soon as I made it clear to her that I would make the trip to Portland one way or another. She has always had impeccable taste, so I chose not to fight her on my living arrangements.