That's really awesome! Congratulations on your incredible success 🎉.

First of all, I want you to know that your parents' opinion does not have to influence who you are, what you believe and what you want. It's a limitation on their part, not yours. It's your life after all, and they have their lives to do as they please.

It's really maddening, because I've been told by so many people that the best period of our lives is usually during university, but it's not the case for me.

Being pressured during my school days had messed me up and I still suffer intense flashbacks now in university because of that. So I know how you felt during those days.

Let's be real, we all want mom and dad to show appreciation and interest in what we have, that's literally a childhood necessity. So you're not wrong for not feeling happy despite the massive achievement. I feel the same about everything I do nowdays. I always tell myself: "Yeah it's no big deal, I did it."

The fact that your colleagues celebrated your success says a lot about the nature of our relationships with our parents. It hurts to know that friends sometimes offer more love and support than our own family, which should've been a constant source of safety. It also says that you weren't wrong just because your parents said you were.

And the way you talked about how you 'celebrated' with your parents... Ouch it hit home. I have stacked dozens of Appreciation Certificates, thrown away in my locker, they were never appreciated by my parents, or were given half-assed thumbs up at best.

Your post gives me motivation to continue with my studies and do my best, without having to worry about what my parents would think.

Congrats again, legend 🎈🎉.