My husband and I worked hard to set up college funds for all our kids, including our oldest, Maddie. But Maddie got pregnant at 16, dropped out of school, and eventually settled down with her boyfriend Jason. We supported her as best we could, even as she struggled financially.

Recently, Maddie’s sister Kate mentioned her own college fund, and Maddie’s eyes lit up. She immediately told Jason, who insisted the money should go toward a house and wedding instead of school. When I said the fund was only for education, Jason’s entire family began calling, demanding we hand it over.

The pressure was intense, but Maddie finally admitted she hadn’t asked them to call — and that hearing them treat her like a paycheck opened her eyes. Three days later, she told me she’d left Jason for good.

Now, Maddie is working on her GED and planning to attend cosmetology school using her college fund. For the first time in years, she’s excited about her future — and Tom and I couldn’t be prouder.