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Hi Bubby,
My name is Anna and I am 17 years old and I live in England. Recently, I've had to make some big decisions which will change my life.
I've wanted to join the Royal Air Force (RAF) military since I was 10 years old and I am still determined to carry this out. However, I must wait a year or two until the intelligence trade opens up again.
In the meantime, I have applied for another year of school in business Studies. But my parents don't think this is the right choice for me. I'm not very good when it comes to exams, I panic and fail. They think I should be out in the real world, get a job and find out what that's like, before I join the RAF.
Now I am quite liking this idea because my boyfriend has offered that I live with him in Cambridge where there are plenty of job opportunities. My parents think it would be good for me to get away and they don't seem to mind that I would be living with my boyfriend (age 21). My dad said not to base my move on my relationship, which I understand. But I do love him and feel like it would be a good move. He lives in a house with 3 other people and they all pay rent. I would also pay rent and he and I would share a room because there are no other rooms in the house! It is a small place.
I am researching what would be best. If I stayed here to do my bushiness Studies, it would mean getting work experience with the MoD which would look good for my hopeful future military career. But it is in a town which is quite difficult to get to from where I live. And it might cost a lot of money, which I don't have.
I hope and look forward to your reply, Bubby.
Thanks, from Ann in UK
Dear Anna in UK,
If you were my daughter I would not allow you to move away from home to live with a 21 year old boy. If you went away to school that would be different. I think that studying a business program is a wonderful idea and it is something that will help you in life no matter what you do after you get your diploma. I myself was a business major and indeed I had wonderful jobs and enjoyed the people I worked with and I am still working. I know that at your age it is very difficult to make a decision and having a boyfriend - you say you love - makes it more difficult. But I can tell you that relationships at your age rarely last a lifetime and as you grow older and wiser you will understand.
Joining the RAF is fine but get your education first -- no one can take that away from you. Just one more word - since you are prepared to pay rent - go to the
school and pay rent in the dorm and get that education. You will find as you grow older you will meet more boys to fall in love with.
I sincerely hope that you give this advice serious thought and I would love to hear from you again.
Good luck.
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