Quote Originally Posted by Noblejanobii View Post
I'm aware. I've been aware for years now. I've been gaslighted since I was a child. There's not much I can do about it. I simply cannot afford to lose them right now, as horrible as they are. Besides, they're getting better in some aspects. Just not all of them. It'll work out. I just need to stay away from them as much as possible and not do awful on my tests these next few weeks.
Right now, perhaps not, unfortunately. Probably not until you graduate. But when you do, run. Cut the ties you don't want anymore and put yourself in a position where they have as little leverage over you as possible. If you're already far enough away to the point where they'd have to take a plane to see you, then you're in the right spot, because distance will ensure they don't show up at your doorstep every afternoon to lecture you. And if you want to be somewhere else, work put yourself there. My sister, who was nearly running on fumes financially, just badly wanted to go to Charlotte North Carolina and she finally got her dream going despite the risks. She's been there for years, adores it, and still begs me to go down there to this day.

An email can be deleted. A phone call can be ignored (sweet, sweet caller ID). Even snail mail can be dumped. You'll be in a position where you can communicate as much or as little as you want to with them, and that's the control you need. Strive for that. Write your own Declaration of Independence. Rock that graduation like we know you can and when you do, you're in control. If you want to go into political science fields, I'm sure you'll rock those, but if you ever want to take another career path to pursue what YOU wanted to pursue from the very beginning, you can always get a Master's degree in something else. And take it from someone who has an MBA, they're cheaper, easier, and a little bit faster to get than undergrad. And I know you can rock that too.

Take it from me. You only truly lose if you give up. And at the end of the day, if your parents dislike you becoming what you've always wanted to be in the place where you've always dreamed of going, guess what? THAT'S THEIR PROBLEM, NOT YOURS.

Now go rock those tests and fight for that awesome future you're going to have. :3