Sometimes, you are absolutely not fair. Which I could deal with, if you didn't claim to be completely logical and understanding all the time. Can you just admit that you're wrong? Could we talk about something without you interrupting me?
Here's how it went. The day I submitted my application for a safe, totally legitimate trip (run by the State Department) to China, my parents said, "Oh, by the way, we have a bad feeling about you going to China."
Um, excuse me? I spent countless hours filling out this application, writing and rewriting essays, seeking peer reviews... time, my most precious commodity. This was absolutely crushing for me. If it weren't in the car on the way to a Sterling Scholar dinner, I would have had a veritable breakdown. As it was, I shed a few silent, burning tears and tried to convince them. I had some good arguments on my side--but they ignored reason. The two arguments that defeated me were that I'm too young and my parents don't personally know every person who has ever been in charge of the program.
Can I just say, I'm tired of being too young? For years, I've gotten letters about science camps, math retreats, leadership training--but every time, my parents said the same thing. You're too young, maybe next year. Year after year, the same reply. It still hurts, every year. That my parents don't think I'm responsible enough to leave home. Yet, they're going to somehow be able to let me go off to college? What's the difference between going to China now and going in a year or maybe two as a study abroad program in college? In my mind, nothing. In my parents' minds, apparently a lot.
As much as I love you, Mom and Dad, this sort of authoritarian action is something that is very very difficult for me to comply with. Call me ridiculous and immature, but I still cannot understand why you don't see that I can take care of myself, and that I'm going out in the real world next year whether you're ready or not. Perhaps you still think I'm four, but I'm not. I am very nearly seventeen, and know a lot more than you give me credit for. I'm giving up on this fight, but I just cannot forget it.
Love, Miranda
No comments:
Post a Comment