An arrogant-looking man holding a credit card while a woman next to him looks annoyed | Source: Shutterstock
When my father stood up at my graduation party and bragged for the millionth time about paying for my college education, I couldn’t stay quiet. It was time to set the record straight, and what I revealed left everyone in the room speechless.
A few years ago, I graduated from college. It was a milestone I worked my butt off to reach, and my dad, Hugo, made sure that journey was even harder than it had to be.
A woman in a cap and gown | Source: Gemini
But what’s even worse, he lied to make himself look great and took credit for all my sacrifices… until I decided to reveal the truth.
Let’s go back to the beginning. My dad was the kind of parent who treated my report cards like they were stock market updates. If I got an A-, he’d hit me with, “What happened to the other two percent?”
He’d tell anyone who’d listen that I was a “little genius” thanks to his guidance, but at home, he tore apart everything I did and didn’t try to help me in the slightest.
A man looking angry while a teenager studies | Source: Gemini
Back then, I was extremely jealous of my cousin Fred, who lived a couple of streets over. He was living the life. His parents, Aunt Florence and Uncle Joe, actually supported his passions.
Fred liked to call himself “laid-back,” but he always got good grades. He even got accepted into one of the hardest engineering programs in the country.
Meanwhile, I was only allowed to study during my pre-teen and teenage years and ended up with a severe fear of failure. For example, having to explain to my dad why I didn’t get accepted into an Ivy League school almost ended me. I was so panicked.
A teenage girl looking sad while holding a rejection letter | Source: Gemini
He screamed and ranted like never before that day. I think that’s when the switch flipped for me. This wasn’t normal. Fred got to do what he wanted and thrived.
So, I decided then and there...
