4 / 5
How it ended
What happened next? What did you do, what changed, and where did it leave you?
I didn't want to work until university, because I lived in a different district from my school, and the commute, Monday to Friday, was exhausting. But my mother refused to give me more money, even to buy some clothes. So I had to work. I found a part-time job thirty minutes from my place and forty-five minutes from school. The first weeks were exhausting. I was not prepared to work that much. But when I received my first paycheck, I couldn't have been happier or prouder of myself. With my tips, I was making almost $1,500 a month. I saved a big part of it to pay for my driver's license and for my university tuition. My parents were saying that I had to be a nurse, and if not, they wouldn't pay my tuition. I did not want to be the next Meredith Grey. So I needed enough of a deposit to take out a loan to study business, and have less to repay. During the summer, I had two jobs: one in a store, and one off the books, as a cleaner. I was exhausted, but the reward of being Miss Independent was worth it. After my bachelor's, I decided to move to another country. My parents were not happy with my decision, but I couldn't care less. Not in a disrespectful way—in a mature way: I'm almost an adult, and for the past few years you refused to give me an allowance because I didn't follow your conditions and rules, because I preferred to follow mine. So if I want to leave, I leave. I don't ask your permission. I just let you know, with respect, about my next move.