Hi Perna - thanks for your email and sharing your stepson's story. He is a lucky guy to have had you in his life during what sounds like must have been a difficult time. My husband failed out of engineering a few times as well. Ironically, he has a really strong aptitude for and interest in such things. He just caved to the pressure. He's studying industrial design now, and it's definitely a matter of him following his heart. I've always encouraged him to do so, and he knows that he is free to pursue what interests him the most (except other women - lol).

Hard to ignore the personal bad stuff, but I try very, very hard to pick my battles. He gets tons of praise for the good stuff -- and I mean it sincerely -- I think he is the most terrific, talented, loving, kind person on earth.