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Can My Parents Force Me To Go To Trade School Or Job Corps Once I Graduate?

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Hello! I'm 17 and graduating early from highschool this week. I want to wait to go to one of my preferred colleges, like UF or USF this upcoming fall 2027, I'm working on my applications and everything. My dad is a pathological liar that tells me anything but the truth. He is telling me that he talked to our schools "lawyer" and that they told him he can forcibly put me into a trade or into job corps, and is attempting to force me to pick between the two. Is he telling the truth? Do I have to suck it up and go to a trade school? I have a 4.1 GPA and all of the qualifiers for a scholarship. I'm confident I'll get into college. He thinks I'll bomb out, and thinks having a trade will save me.

Edit: My father likes to claim I'm irresponsible and lies about me to my friends parents and my mother. My parents are divorced. I don't have any documented or undocumented behavioral issues, aside from typical teen rebellion when I was younger. And the research I've done so far indicates he would have to get a judge to force me to go. My transcripts show I was in band, which he admittedly forced me to go into, and they're claiming I lied about getting bullied to get switched out of jrotc to get classes with my boyfriend. I had an instance where I did run away when I was fourteen, but I haven't even been to the hospital since then. I have no recent transgressions. My dad put me in an early graduation school because he's traumatized by his mother and thinks I'll drop out and get pregnant simply because I'm dating. He claims to people I've talked about my sex life to him, WHICH I NEVER HAVE, and that I admitted to having "unsafe sex". Like hello?? Why would I tell MY FATHER that. I don't see why a judge would force me to go to a trade school or job corps. Along with the 4.1 gpa, I also have 26 credits, which is two above the standard requirement. I'm valedictorian of the school I am at, and am also an honors student. I have a history of mental illness, but have been unmedicated for the last two years. I apologize if this seems like a less logical and more emotional rant, I'm under heavy stress and I fear rushing into more schooling will make me bomb out, which is why I want to wait to go to college. I'm a bit emotional at the moment, so my condolences for any unnecessary information. I simply couldn't find any statutes or laws that explain this clearly enough for me to prove to myself that he can't make me go, and that fighting back won't be pointless. I will be talking to a counselor as well. He wants me to figure out payment for college on my own as well. Apparently, I'm doing "adult things", so he wants me to have "adult responsibilities", but also won't let me make decisions for myself.

Location: Florida

submitted by /u/Earth-Upset
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