You are gifted in that you know what you want to do with your life. Many people don't have a clue, and founder through life, going from one unhappiness to another.

You have been given the gift of knowing what you want, and knowing the path to get there.

We love you, and will be there for you.

I am sure your mom loves you, but doesn't know the strength of your conviction. That's okay, parents seem often to be the last to realize their children are adults. As she would have sheilded you from bad places when you were a child, so she seems to be tryiong to sheild you now, without realizing how much it hurts you.

You will get your degree in your own time, and learn more than many in the process.

Hang in there, kiddo! Statisticks? Bleaaaa - but I went to Art School, so we never had anything like that!