From attending every “bring your daughter to work day”, to shadowing the marketing department in my dad’s London office, my dad’s work has surrounded me throughout my life and I have loved every minute of it. This deep involvement in my dad’s work has benefited our relationship in numerous ways, which is why I encourage people in the workforce to do the same.
First, it involves us in each other’s lives more. Going along with him to work events, business trips or just discussing his day allows us to make memories and spend more time with one another. I get to learn more about him, learn more about his job, and develop a genuine interest in what he does.
The second benefit is that seeing my dad’s work first hand has given me an idea of my future career path. I have learned about different finance topics throughout my life which not only interests me but have become passions of mine. My past spring break as a junior in high school was spent in my dad’s London office shadowing his marketing department. The most we saw each other during “work” was passing by one another in between our meetings, but at the end of the day we talked about how our days went and discussed some of the different challenges that came up. This office exposure and positive work experience made me confident in my future career path and created unforgettable memories with my dad. For the kids that don’t enjoy their parent’s field of work, at least they now have an idea of what they don’t want to do.
I’ve also become more proud of my dad knowing what he does. Hearing that his board week went well is even more exciting knowing all of the hard work that went into it. Growing up, my dad practiced speeches in front of my brother and I and we got to see first-hand the hard work that goes into his accomplishments at work. This allows us to truly appreciate the amount of dedication necessary to succeed in the corporate world.
Finally, being involved in his work helps my brother and I stay connected with my dad regardless of his travel schedule. My dad travels a lot for his job but we always manage to text, call and facetime to discuss how his trip is going and learn more about his job, and of course share what we’re up to.
Being involved in my dad’s work has been fundamental to my growth, future career path and my relationship with my dad. So, to all of the people in the workforce with kids, no matter what age, include them in your work somehow. Try practicing presentations in front of them and ask them for feedback. Bring them into work or even invite them on a business trip. I promise doing so will allow them to be more appreciative of your work, give them an idea of their future career path, and most importantly strengthen your relationship with them.
Lauren Becker is a 17 year senior in high school in Silicon Valley. She aspires to major in business next fall at a top university.