AITAH for refusing to get a job to help support my sister through college?

A Reddit user shared their dilemma about refusing their parents’ request to take a year off community college to work and financially support their older sister through university. The sister had previously blown through $20,000 in savings on frivolous expenses before dropping out.

Now back in school, she struggles with expenses, and their parents want the user to sacrifice their own education to help her. Despite being guilt-tripped and ridiculed, the user is standing firm, feeling that their sister’s poor choices shouldn’t derail their own future. Read the full story below and decide if their stance is justified.

‘ AITAH for refusing to get a job to help support my sister through college?’

I’m 19 and male. My sister, Megan, is 21. Throughout high school, Megan was the star child. I would be lying if I said that this didn’t make me feel some degree of animosity towards my parents. My father used to make me clean the bathroom because, and I quote, “With those grades, you’ll never amount to anything more than a janitor anyway.”

In my first year of high school, I had a violent crime committed against me, and due to PTSD and panic attacks, I found myself unable to go most days. Megan, on the other hand, got into a highly-ranked university as a freshman.

This meant that the little money my family had went to her, and my parents transferred $20,000 to her at the beginning of the summer before she went. Megan went wild with the money. Eating out 3x/day, weed, parties, more weed, and a l**er boyfriend led to her burning through almost all of it in three months.

She then neglected to tell our parents until the night before she left, which caused an enormous fight. After dropping out, I studied for the GED and passed. I then applied for community college, which I’m currently attending. I plan to transfer to a 4-year university, although I’m confident I will never be seeing a penny from my parents for it.

Since Megan blew through her college money, she has had to work in university, which is something she complains about endlessly. Her school is across the state, so living at home is unrealistic. Our parents do everything they can to support her, but we were never rich to begin with.

Last night, my parents called me to the living room to talk about a plan. The long and short of it is they want me to take a year off of school to work at my uncle’s company. I will be using this money to help support Megan until she graduates next year. In return, my parents will be able to help me more.

I immediately refused. I don’t want to put my life on hold because Megan is an i**ot, although I didn’t say that. My parents tore into me about how I was “only going to community college,” and how I “didn’t go to high school anyway.”

Since I refused, they’ve begun calling me “The Notorious GED,” and Megan has been texting me about how huge of a selfish a**hole I am.
Should I bite the bullet and take one for my family here? I could take a year off and be fine I suppose.

Take a look at the comments from fellow users:

teresajs −  NTA. Meghan could work for your Uncle’s company over winter break and summer break.  That should help her out immensely.

Clean_Factor9673 −  NTA. Find a roommate situation and get out. It won’t just be a year, you’ll end up working for your uncle until Megan drops out or more likely gets kicked out of college.

Stay the course. Your life is about you, you’re not some drudge to be subservient to your sister. Good luck in school! You’re doing it right; GED, community College then 4 yr college.. Do not quit.. Edited a word

Secret_Sister_Sarah −  Holy f**king s**t. If this is real, obviously NTA but I can’t believe any parents would be so dismissive of a son trying to earn the best education he can after a terrible setback…

tigerofjiangdong1337 −  NTA do not give her a penny. Your sister will never learn responsibility because she is an entitled b**t spoiled by your parents. Hold your head up and as soon as you can go NC with the whole lot of them. Your parents s**k.

Salt-Finding9193 −  NO. And no means NO. You are not going to sacrifice a year of your life for that entitled, spoilt i**ot.
You have to move out, get away from this pathetic excuse of a family. 

Con4America −  NTA. Tell your parents and Megan that she can take a year off and work at your uncle’s company since was so irresponsible and blew all the money she was given.

Tell them you would just be enabling her bad behavior. There is no guarantee she won’t do it with any money you give her. If she was really that great of a student, she would have gotten scholarships to the school.

MethodMaven −  Do not take a year off, do not support/give money to Megan or your parents (because $ to mom & dad will end up in Sis’ hands). At your earliest opportunity, move out. But, before you do, lock down your credit.

Since your parents don’t see you as someone who can be successful, it is quite possible that they (or Megan) would use your unblemished credit record to run up debt – which you could be on the hook for.

Stay in school. Google “grey rock method” to learn techniques that can get you through the pressure campaign your family has – and will continue to – put you through.. 💪🍀

joe-lefty500 −  Get out of that house asap. Their request is sickening and shows they don’t value you. Get out and go NC. Sorry for your troubles. NTA

18k_gold −  Tell your sister she is the biggest selfish b**ch for blowing all the money your parents worked hard to give her. Now just needs to get her lazy ass to work and support herself.

VegetableBusiness897 −  ‘Notorious GED’. Yes parents, I’ll Get Education Done….. Something you’re daughter won’t

Do you think the Redditor should prioritize their education or pause it to support their sister despite her past financial mistakes? How would you balance family obligations and personal goals in this situation? Share your thoughts and perspectives in the comments below!