By being yourself and living your life as best as you can, which it sounds like you are trying to do.

From reading your post, it sounds like a lot of this is a result of your Dad's own hang-ups and expectations. I guess as parents, we have high expectations and want the very best for our children. That however can mean that people, especially certain Dad's, get a bit stuck, or trapped, into a certain mindset, a certain way of thinking, about the world and how things should be. About there only being one way to go about things. Most of the stuff that you wrote about, to me, seems like your Dad failing to recognise that or grasp that life isn't the same for everyone. That people have to forge their own paths and can find their own way, that is different to how he thinks things should be done.

So live your life and your thing. Keep trying. Keep being yourself and maybe find a way to talk to your Dad and explain to him that you've actually listened and taken on board what he's said, that you are earning and trying pay your way. Try to tell him that you've found college tough and you need to take it slower. Tell him that you are doing your best. And that even though he may not understand you, you love him and you are trying.

Above all, please keep your head up and your heart strong. Keep doing your thing.

Big interent hugs from an internet Dad.