I (24F) have been no-contact with my parents for three months, and my family thinks I’m being dramatic.I had a 4.2 GPA, was valedictorian, and got accepted to three prestigious universities with partial scholarships. My dream was to become a doctor.I gave up my dreams, because when I asked about college, my parents crushed me with, “We can’t afford it.”dad looked me in the eyes and said, “We just don’t have the money. Maybe community college?”

I worked shifts instead of studying, starving at school without lunch. I took a job at a diner, working 30+ hours a week while watching classmates prepare for college. I had to decline my acceptance letters and watch my scholarship deadlines pass.For six years, I’ve been working dead-end jobs while my former classmates graduated and started careers.Then everything changed last week.Last week, while cleaning our dark basement, my throat tightened as I learned they had been lying this entire time. I found a folder labeled “College Fund — Chloe.”

My parents had saved over $180,000 for my education. Plus documents showing a $50,000 inheritance they received right before my senior year.But here’s the kicker: While I was working double shifts, eating ramen, they took a three-week European vacation the summer after I graduated. They spent $15,000 on that trip alone.