SDA University vs Full Ride Scholarship
Context: I'm a high school senior in sda house. I have full tuition offers at some very small (800 enrollment) out of state sda colleges (parents would cover housing). I also have a full ride scholarship to a large (30,000 kids) out of state, state university. My parents strongly believe it is God's will to go to sda school.
I was planning to strike out on my own to go to the state school for a couple months. It represented freedom from religion and from my parents. However, I've recently had great communication breakthroughs with my parents about how I feel. We have gotten to the point where they understand my need for independence, and I no longer need to run away or lie.
For now, we have compromised on an sda school that is far away. I do think this would fulfill my need for freedom. Part of me still wants to go to the state school though, where I believe I would truly grow and flourish.
If I go to the sda school, I would likely lose my full ride to the state school and it is uncertain whether I could get another one.
I have full rides, so I technically can choose myself. However, because my parents say it is God's will for me to go, I don't have a good argument. I can either bring up points like the different environment and academic opportunities. However, my parents perceive that that means I value these things more than God's will. I could alternatively say I believe God's will is different. However, I can't back this up well. I can't say I have prayed more about this. (my parents have prayed for years for me to go sda uni while I haven't been praying much) I also can't win the theological debate (my dad has a masters in theology).
Does anyone have any advice or thoughts? I could not find many people on the subreddit with this situation. This is really hard for me.