sigh, I can totally sympathize with you. I specifically remember calling my parents when I was in college and telling them I was switching majors (from pre-med to English, the horror). my dad was silent. my mom was hysterical and basically didn’t speak to me for a month, and then entered a denial phase that she’s only now—like, a decade later—is thawing out of. it can be hard but you should absolutely do it because why should you hide what you want to be (and therefore who you are)? so, here’s what I would do: tell them in person. don’t just say “Mom, Dad, I want to be a blahdeblah. isn’t that great? k, bye!” tell them your plans—and make them exactly that: plans. explain the career trajectory for the path you’re choosing: people start with this job, then they do this, and then are promoted to this, etc. I think 99 percent of my parents’ freak-out was due to lack of understanding of the industry I was embarking out. the more I fill them in, the more understanding they are (note the present tense—they’re still learning to embrace it). in any case, congratulations: you should be happy you found your calling. you’re lucky, really! so many people don’t know what they want to do with their lives, like, ever. if you know, you owe it to yourself to do it.