/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

>family is forcing me to go to a normie retreat with a motivational speaker
>because of this event I have to miss classes at college and spend $600+ on airfare/hotel/etc
>on top of already having to buy the event ticket
>super stressed because I can barely juggle work and full-time school as is while paying for everything myself, and now I need to do a week's worth of schoolwork in two days' time
>family doesn't understand that I genuinely enjoy being in school because I'm surrounded by people with the same career path and hobbies, and not pyramid scheme obsessed stay at home moms that think college is evil

I'm really upset about this but they think it's a once-in-a-lifetime event that's more important than being at school. I don't want to sound like a jerk but it's aggravating that they're making me waste so much money on something I have no interest in. I've never even spent this kind of money on anime conventions or cosplay.