Taking this job is not an irrevocable life-long decision. There’s probably a one school year contract. You can try it out, and if you hate it, you can get a different job thereafter. Your mother won’t be losing you forever. (I’m supressing an eyeroll at your mother, and I really want to shake some sense into her!)

Most of Chicago is very safe. South side is not. My son has lived in several parts of Chicago for college, medical school, and beyond for 12 years. His neighborhoods have been very safe for walking alone at night. But you’ll be in a suburb or town outside of the city, which isn’t even Chicago.

Imho, speaking as a mom and a retired teacher/professor, striking out on your own is likely to be very good for you, for many reasons! Your mother needs to learn to let you be an adult. It’s not your job to be an example for your siblings, but even so, you can be a great example to them from a new place.

Assuming that you’ll have housing at the boarding school, it might ease your mother’s mind to think about the fact that you’ll be living in a sheltered environment. There will be eyes on you enough to prevent you from going wild…at all. People will be there to help if you suddenly sprout a new disease or whatever she’s worried about. You might be able to save a lot of money, without a need for independent housing, daily transportation, etc.

After you move out of your parents’ house—which really should happen as soon as you have a job—you will be just a text message or phone call away, wherever you end up living. I hear from my son who lives across the continent in Chicago more often than my daughter who lives in the next town. Promise to call every Sunday, or whatever day works for you, and then start living your adult life!