<p>Your father is wrong and is abusive. He is the example of what you do not want to do to your son or daughter. Perhaps you can forgive his ignorance if you can make excuses for him based on his life history. </p>
<p>Try not to absorb this poison in your system. You have been admitted to a great college that is in high demand and sadly many northern Virginians can’t get their sons or daughters into James Madison. </p>
<p>Find the joy in your admission by paradoxing everybody. When you arrive, be open hearted and make friends and do not talk about VA Tech as your first choice. Do very well in your classes and join some community service group or activity of some kind. Build a resume that shows you contribute to JMU and mind your grades and avoid “freshman follies” that all kids are vulnerable to when only 18-19. Use the campus counseling system if you need to get some things off your back and reframe your parental pressure…you might feel immense relief just seeing the free college counselor four or five times. </p>
<p>After you give JMU you best from your heart and mind, if your grades are good, consider putting in for a transfer. Va Tech is not a better college than JMU across the board at all…JMU leads in many departments so you will come to find out more about JMU as you get oriented and settled in there. You have no obligation whatsoever to transfer from JMU but if your transcript is good, that option is there for you possibly. </p>
<p>Tell your father you will make him proud of you and then try to imagine your father with a bandage around his head the next time he verbally abuses you. He is not well. He is speaking from a distorted view of life. You are young and have so much potential for happiness and for being useful in the work force. Give your school your love and attention and believe in yourself and in your future freedom to define your own life.</p>