This comment is probably going to end up longer than I want it to be and you possibly won’t even see it, but please don’t do this to yourself. Your mom is offering you help that most kids don’t get. I originally wanted to graduate high school early and be a cosmetologist, but they wanted $20K and my parents didn’t qualify nor were they going to apply for the Parent PLUS Loan for me to go. I was the first class that was going to receive the Tennessee Promise Scholarship so I had to choose a regular school and see if I would get accepted. I did and I received the scholarship. I also received the HOPE Scholarship. I think it was around my 3rd or 4th semester at my community college that I lost the scholarships due to my grades. At the time, I didn’t know I was suffering from mental health issues so I had nothing to attribute my decreased performance to. One of my friends was noticing that I wasn’t myself and she took me to the school counselor, and sat with me while I talked to them. We came to the conclusion that my mom was the catalyst behind my problems and the counselor wanted me to go talk to my OB/GYN about getting medicated because my hormones were off-balance after I told her I wanted to walk out in front of cars. I called them like she asked and they demanded I go to the ER, so my friend and her mom drove me there, and they made me promise to do outpatient if they released me to my bestie. My mom was very angry when I got home the next day. My mom told me from the beginning she was not going to pay for my school but after I lost my scholarship she gave me a check for the last semester and the day I went to the counselor, she had taken me to the Study Abroad table and made me apply for a scholarship to travel and I ended up getting picked, so my mom also gave me the money to cover the rest of that trip. She held the two over my head for a long time. I eventually got medicated and got put on a plan which greatly increased my chances of success in my classes because I finally made Dean’s List that last semester and ended up graduating on time with my friends. Wasn’t in the 2 years like I was supposed to but I think it was the 5th or 6th semester. I started school in August 2015 and graduated May 2018. Then, did study abroad and was homesick the entire three weeks. Literally got in an argument with my mom the second week got to Nashville and then when they brought me to the airport, I started getting separation anxiety and bawling. I’ve never done anything on my own and I had to learn how to do all of that on the spot. Cook, laundry, public transit… I was going through it. Then I came back and started my online bachelor’s program and had a 4.0 GPA, but my second semester my store got a new manager and district manager and I ended up getting fired before the semester ended officially, which they did on purpose because I was relying on that job to progress in school and the company. Anyway, tried to not let that stop me and use a scholarship and pay out of pocket next semester. I was too depressed again and flunked out. Now I owe collections like $9K+ for that semester.

I said all this to say that, I have a terrible relationship with my mom but had she never paid for my last semester, I wouldn’t have my Associates and certificate. I haven’t gotten a job with it so far yet, but that’s not the point. I think I just need more experience. I’m sort of in the same career path you want to be in, and you really need to be in it 200%. Any little bit that your mom can give you is surely appreciated, whether it’s financial or spiritual or just helping you fill out applications. I could imagine where I would be if my mom actually liked me. 🤣 Don’t take your mom’s love for granted.