I’m 17 and have been home schooled for the past three years. It’s actually an online charter program. My parents constantly fight which makes it hard for me to concentrate so my grades are often poor. My teachers are all aware of the situation and know I try to be a good student, so they typically give me extra credit and drop assignments so that I’ll pass with a B or C. My parents hate this saying I’m being “babied”. They looked into having me go back to public school and found that my charter school requires less credits to graduate than the public school. Most of my credits also won’t transfer. My parents are switching me back just because of this so I’ll be forced to take an extra year or two of school.

On top of that I have a great job at an arcade. I’m known through the district as the best worker in that chain. The day I turn 18 they’re promoting me to manager, even though the typical age for that is 19. By the time I’m 21 I’ll be eligible to be a GM making $60,000/year without college. Of course I still am planning on going, however I still need to keep this job. My parents don’t like that I’m being handed constant promotions and raises. I’ve been there 9 months and make more than a few of my managers. They think it’s “inappropriate” and teaching me a horrible lesson. Therefore they decided that after the summer I have to quit my job when I go back to regular school. This means I miss out on the management positions.

I just don’t know what to do. I don’t turn 18 until April so I can’t stop any of this. If I have to be a 5th year senior it closes so many doors, especially if I don’t have my job as backup. I probably would end up as a drop out. My parents both are slightly successful but worked extremely hard for it. They also both struggled to make it in the world and think I’d be better off if I did too. I see their point, but I don’t want to risk it. Is there any way that I can break free from their control’ I know legally until April I have to abide by their rules, but is there any way I can get around it’