I always take my Dad’s advice – and do the opposite | Jillian Pretzel

My dad gives smart advice, but it always leads me down paths that didn’t feel like ‘me’. When, and how, can we stop listening to our dads? When I was a kid, my dad told me to pick a sport, practice a lot and stick with it. That way, in high school, I’d join the team and have built-in friends. “Later, you can aim for a college scholarship,” he said with a wide, confident smile. I knew this was good advice. It was bold, financially minded and forward-thinking. The only problem? I was terrible at sports. Continue reading...

Jillian Pretzel · Sat, Jun 20, 2026, 11:00 PM
US news | The Guardian

I always take my Dad’s advice – and do the opposite | Jillian Pretzel

My dad gives smart advice, but it always leads me down paths that didn’t feel like ‘me’. When, and how, can we stop listening to our dads?

When I was a kid, my dad told me to pick a sport, practice a lot and stick with it. That way, in high school, I’d join the team and have built-in friends. “Later, you can aim for a college scholarship,” he said with a wide, confident smile.

I knew this was good advice. It was bold, financially minded and forward-thinking. The only problem? I was terrible at sports.

This page shows an excerpt; reporting belongs to the original publisher. Some images or embeds may be omitted compared with the live article.