A Tribute to My Parents: Two Different Challenges

Nine years ago, I lost my father. He was an incredible man, a mechanical engineer who led many big construction projects across Europe. Even though he was so accomplished, he never really understood the work I do. I can still picture him walking into our office, looking around, and asking, “What exactly are you guys doing here?” To him, real work was about steel and construction—things you could see and touch.

He would often tell me, “If you fail, you can always go back to playing the piano in a bar.” I used to play piano to entertain people, and he saw that as a fallback plan. But in his own way, he was challenging me—pushing me to succeed, reminding me that even if things didn’t go as planned, I always had options.

Today, I lost my mother. She was the opposite of my father. She never asked about the details of my work or if she understood it. Her only concern was, “Are you okay? Are you happy with what you’re doing?” For her, the most important thing was my well-being and happiness.

Both my parents challenged me in their own ways. My father pushed me to achieve and succeed, while my mother encouraged me to stay strong and take care of myself, no matter what happened.

Now, as I look back on what they taught me, I realise how much both of their lessons matter. My father gave me the drive to succeed, and my mother gave me the strength to keep going, no matter the obstacles.

So, no matter what others say about you or your ideas, just keep going. Take the best of both lessons: aim high, but also remember to care for yourself and your happiness along the way.