<p>Where did your parents go to school? I think all parents want their kids to go further in life… but sometimes it’s frightening when it actually starts to happen. If you sit them down (and, if you have siblings who could help you, get them in on it too), and talk openly, you may discover what their fears are, and be able to reassure them. You also might talk to your guidance counselor and see if he/she can help. You sound very mature and thoughtful, and I suspect they’re proud of your abilities…but something is holding them back. You can find ‘proof’ that Bucknell, for instance, is a great school-- USNWR rankings, grad school acceptances, etc. You can ask them to accompany you to at least one distant school you like, let them ask all the questions they like so they can satisfy themselves.</p>
<p>I bet they’ll come around, or at least come to a compromise. If not, family counseling might be a help. It’s your life, you’ve worked hard for it, and you deserve to know at least the true reason for their wariness, so you can find something that works for all… (you do all want the same thing).</p>