The world of film and television begins with university lecturers

Twenty minutes later, Han Tao patiently answered the last student's question and breathed a sigh of relief.

The surge of energy throughout his body gave him a long-lost sense of exhilaration and satisfaction.

With the side quest successfully completed, the system gave him a generous reward, and he finally gained a firm foothold on the podium of Shanghai University.

The original owner had been a lecturer for two and a half years. His next goal was to get promoted to associate professor and win over a female lead so he could escape the ranks of older single men.

Just as he was about to leave, a slender figure blocked his way. It was Jiang Nansun, who had audited two classes in a row.

Throughout the entire class, she kept her eyes on Han Tao, her notebook filled with dense writing. The casualness of her usual rich heiress was gone, replaced by a look of focus and struggle.

During the previous class, Han Tao's insightful analysis of further education, employment, and life precisely touched upon the deep-seated issues in Jiang Nansun's heart.

From childhood to adulthood, her life trajectory had been planned by her father. After completing her undergraduate degree, she had to take the postgraduate entrance examination, and after graduating with a master's degree, she would continue to pursue a doctorate.

Recently, her father has made it clear that he does not agree with her dating ordinary men and even said he would arrange blind dates for her, as if she would be trapped in the "comfortable cage" carefully built by the Jiang family for the rest of her life.

Most outsiders only see her living a life of luxury, with all her expenses covered by her family, but no one knows that behind this privileged life lies the complete loss of her right to choose her own path in life.

She had also considered working independently and breaking free from her family's control, but every time she brought it up, her mother and Zhang Anren would dissuade her with various reasons. Even her best friend Zhu Suosuo felt that she didn't need to suffer unnecessarily.

However, the long-term wavering and repression plunged her into a deep contradiction. On the one hand, she was tired of this completely arranged life, and on the other hand, she lacked the courage to cut off economic dependence and face this society alone.

Today, after listening to Han Tao's two open lectures that directly confronted reality, her long-suppressed confusion could no longer be contained. She finally made up her mind to seek guidance from this sharp-tongued teacher.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Han, for taking up a little of your time." She stood by the podium, her tone polite and gentle.

Han Tao looked up and recognized Jiang Nansun, who had been sitting in the back row for two consecutive classes. He smiled and nodded, "It's okay, feel free to ask any questions."

"Professor Han's class was very inspiring, especially his metaphors about strategy and tactics, which left a deep impression on me." Jiang Nansun's voice was soft and clear, as if every word had been carefully considered.

"But what if a person is defined by external voices for a long time, even having their own 'strategy' decided by others, and gradually losing the opportunity to make their own choices?

Han Tao did not answer immediately, but nodded slightly and gestured for Jiang Nansun to sit down in the empty seat next to him.

"That's a very good question," he said gently, his eyes encouraging. "But before we discuss it, why don't you introduce yourself? I don't think I've seen you in class before."

"Hello, Professor Han, my name is Jiang Nansun, and I am currently an undergraduate and master's student in architecture." She paused briefly, as if sorting through her chaotic thoughts, before continuing in a soft yet firm voice:

"I will soon be completing my undergraduate and master's studies. My father has always hoped that I could continue to pursue a doctoral degree, and my tuition and living expenses over the years have indeed been covered by my family."

She lowered her head slightly, her tone carrying a barely perceptible struggle: "But to be honest, I don't want to continue down the path that my elders have already planned for me, nor do I want to continue relying on my family's financial support to complete my studies."

I long to enter the workforce as soon as possible, find a formal job, and achieve financial independence.

Only in this way can I truly break free from my father and grandmother's control over my life and forge my own path.

  

But... I'm conflicted. On one hand, I'm afraid that if I rashly give up further studies, I'll miss out on better opportunities for future development.

On the other hand, I have absolutely no work experience and I worry about whether I can gain a foothold in society in a short period of time if I lose my family's support.

So I'd like to ask you, given the current job market, should I choose to pursue a PhD or go straight to work and support myself after graduation?

Han Tao had watched this TV series in his previous life and knew the hidden bitterness behind her smile.

Her grandmother, Grandma Jiang, longed for a grandson and even named her granddaughter "Nan Sun," which is a homophone for "male grandson," and thus became the initial label of her life.

More importantly, in the Jiang family, Grandma Jiang held absolute power, while Jiang Nansun's parents were actually "parasites" who relied on their ancestral property.

Grandma Jiang always felt that her granddaughter would eventually get married and become an outsider, so even though she didn't mistreat her, she never really gave her the respect she deserved.

Jiang Nansun's mother complained all day about being financially dependent and constrained in every way, but she herself had no ambition. She would go out to play cards during the day and come home to enjoy herself at night, never really thinking about changing.

Her father was even more obsessed with the stock market, having secretly emptied the family's savings and even accumulated huge debts. It's just that the current storm hasn't yet hit them.

Therefore, Han Tao slowly analyzed: "Actually, this is just like fighting a war. First of all, you have to distinguish which are real intelligence and which are interference information."

What you need is not to find the answer immediately, but to first learn to ask yourself questions.

As he spoke, he borrowed Jiang Nansun's pen and paper and drew a simple quadrant diagram: "Try using this tool. The horizontal axis is 'external expectations,' and the vertical axis is 'internal motivation.'"

You can put the choices you face into the equation, not to judge whether they are right or wrong, but to see clearly which area they fall into.

For example, what you are resisting is the act of continuing your studies, or the passive feeling of being arranged by your family and bound by a limited life?

If you are genuinely passionate about this major and eager to delve deeper into academic pursuits and improve yourself, then pursuing a doctorate is undoubtedly a great choice.

However, if you pursue a doctorate simply because you're being pushed by your elders, or to fulfill your father's vision of a "gilded" degree, then that diploma might become a shackle that binds you.

He paused briefly at this point, then turned the topic back to the practical aspect of employment: "If you choose to go directly into employment, from a realistic point of view, the initial period will definitely be quite tough."

Once you're no longer financially supported by your family, you'll have to cover all your rent and daily expenses yourself. Starting salaries are usually low, and the difference in living standards can be far greater than you imagine.

For those who have grown up in comfort, the hardest part may not be the physical exhaustion, but rather the psychological adjustment to suddenly falling from a high position.

"However, this training won't be a bad thing for you." Han Tao changed the subject, his tone encouraging.

"Entering the industry early, personally understanding the rules of society, and accumulating practical experience is not a bad thing."

Even if you want to pursue further education someday, you'll have a clear understanding of the workplace when choosing a direction, instead of blindly following others' arrangements.

Seeing that Jiang Nansun did not refute him, he knew that she had really listened, and continued, "Your father planned your future with the intention of caring for you."

However, the method he used was a kind of "imprisonment" under the guise of protection; they used material support to take away your control over your life.

Achieving self-reliance is never a difficult choice. You don't have to reject pursuing a PhD right now; you can give yourself some breathing room.

For example, you can apply for internships during your spare time and summer vacation to experience the workplace atmosphere firsthand and try to achieve temporary self-sufficiency with your internship salary.

Make your final decision only when you have earned enough income on your own to support your daily life.

Only then will you have complete control over whether you choose to work or study.