Too young? Options

[livwho]

"We have to push you because you won't push yourself."

A direct quote from my mother regarding swim team. (Just so you know, I'm an extremely driven individual.)
It's time to assume some responsibility and get a summer job, but my parents believe otherwise. In their minds, fifteen is too young to be working.

All I'm asking for is some independence to buy what I want with my own money, and (maybe) pay half of my college tuition when the time comes. Is that too much?

[superstitious]

If I may, the "pushing" might only be in concern for academics and extracurricular activities (related to school, such as the swim team) and not necessarily a need to push on a personal level or a job related level. Obviously you are a motivated individual and I'm sure to some extent that they can see that.

I can see things from both side because I am a relatively young mom and I'm starting to understand (some) of my mother's perspectives on things when I was in school and of course I remember how it felt when it seemed like I wasn't given my own room to grow or felt like somehow my independence was being stifled.

At one point, you will have to work for the rest of your life (unless you get married and your spouse is able to completely support you. Despite that being a terribly boring notion, it doesn't happen as often as it used to). If you are able to focus on school, focus on participating in extracurricular activities (beit art, drama, music, sports, computers) and on friends then I would say do it. Live it and have as much fun and absorb as much as you can, while you still can. Not to say that life gets horrible, that the acquisition of knowledge ends and working is a bitch (ok, sometimes working IS a bitch) but there will be a point in your life when you will not get the choices that you have now and/or they will be pretty limited.

I just wanted to give an additional perspective.

And can someone help her out with the merging. LOL XD