This is a hard one and I have experienced it alot. My dad is the biggest road block of my life. It's really dragged me down and caused me to miss out on a lot of things.

I didn't go out of state to college because my dad made me feel like I couldn't do it. I ended up not finishing college at all. I gave up on theater and singing because my dad made me feel it was a worthless venture and I wouldn't make it, (even after I was chosen to go to a regional competition which I declined because he made me feel I had to get a "job" instead.) There are so many other things I gave up because of his attitude.

So, my advice is put your fingers in your ears and go for it! Forget what other peole say regardless of who they are! Your parents, your friends, your relatives, your teachers.... doesn't matter. If you don't try you'll never know. It's like that saying says: the worst regrets are not the things we did but the things we didn't do. It's true. I have so many regrets about my missed oportunities and things I gave up.

That's why I started to write again. And this time I'm not sharing that I'm writing with my family, because they never care or give me any support. And if I ever get published I won't be thanking them in the acknowledgments, that's for sure.