How do I get my parents to let me go to a boarding school?

Do you think boarding school is a valid option for me?

• Im 15 and going to be a junior next year. I like my school a lot right now (I go to a public high school) I make very good grades (all A's in advanced courses) Im in the theater department and I love all the people in the department and I have a lot of friends at my school now. But, I hate, hate, hate living where I live. I absolutely cant stand it. I live with my mom and, she is literally crazy, and she drives me crazy. Shes a good loving person, but living wiht her makes me want to gouge my eyes out because Im the type of person who is very productive and has a high emphasis on self motivation and all she does is sit around all day and complain. If I didnt need her to drive me places (Im too young for a license) I wouldn't need her at all. I spend most of my time after school in my room doing homework and on the weekends I have to be busy every hour or I go crazy. Thats how much I dislike being around the house with her. Its just generally very very dysfunctional in every way. My mom isnt abusive or anything close to that in any way, I just HATE being at my house. I could go live with my dad, who I honestly would be able to tolerate much better but I don't want to because that would mean living far away from my friends 1, and more importantly I would feel like I was betraying my mom because they are divorced due to him being a seriously BAD husband and doing really bad things to her. So just on principal, I couldn't live with him, although he has always been an excellent father to me. So I had the idea, what if I didnt have to live with either of them? Ive always wanted to go to boarding school, even as a child I liked the idea, I always have. I would want to go for the academic aspects, because school and my grades are my top priority and I consistently stay ahead in school, and honestly I cant even concentrate at my house half the time because its soooo chaotic. I would also want to go to a preforming arts school, because Im really serious about acting and I think living on campus would help with the demanding schedule that comes along with being in shows. I like the idea of living away from the house because Im really self sufficient and in many ways living with my mom is just an annoyance, she doesn't ever have to tell me to do anything I need to be doing and really just distracts me if anything from my own responsibilities, since she herself really has none. Every time I travel, or even leave the house for a second I long to just stay gone, and I NEVER get homesick. My only concerns would be missing my circle of friends here a lot, and convincing my dad to pay for my boarding school. He pays for EVERYTHING for me,my sister, and my mom (because she doesnt work) although they are divorced. He makes over 60,000 a year for sure but Im not sure what the exact amount is. I know he has enough so that he can pay for the two households he supports and that I can be what most people would call very spoiled. Mostly what I want, I get. My questions are: Do you think boarding school is a good solution for me? If you have been to boarding school, would you say its worth it? How much financial aid do you think my family could qualify for? Would it be plausible to afford it? How do you think I could convince my parents to let me go?

• Answer:

  I am a product of a boarding school but my attendance was based on different motives.I enjoyed most of my boarding school years and attained very good grades which was my parents motives in sending me to a boarding school. You are a very talented and intelligent young person who is gong through trauma related to your parents divorce. While boarding school might help you focus more on your studies,it is only a temporary place of refuge.There is therefore need to politely speak to your mother and discuss your concerns with her. You might be very surprised that she is not aware of your observations and concerns.You have stated that she is not abusive and might therefore be totally unaware of your frustrations.Boarding school programmes will come and go or pass but your mum will always be your mum.Try and build a relationship with her.You do not want to end up regretting failing to do so in life.