Nobody should abandon their genuine desires or ambitions just because somebody says so, but they ought to consider many points of view prior to making a large life decision. That's just common sense and whether or not you realize it, for most people the ones that will care the most about you for the majority of your life are your parents. Not all parents are bastions of wisdom, but not all are stifling control freaks either. It's good to have an openness to advice IMO, especially from those that know you best.What your parents will say, what anyone else says, should not matter.
I think this is dangerous advice. Often, the people in our lives that provide feedback do so from a genuine and well informed perspective. This should matter.
The first time I took a decision that my family (particularly my father) didn't like was when I chose to go for life sciences instead of med school. I simply didn't want to be a doctor, I wanted to know what happens behind the curtains, get good education in that direction without dealing with patients. My father avoided talking to me for a year. Until he watched a documentary about stem cells, then he called me up. To the day, he tells people that I study medicine. My parents tend to advice me to go for the things that bring me the most money. They went for what they wanted and they are middle class. Sometimes I think that they wish it went different and they became upper class (like some friends that went for med school). But why? I don't see the other families more happy than we are... I think my parents would see it as a waste of time and a step in the wrong direction if I go work for MAPS. The stigma associated with psychedelics and their fear that I would destroy my life is too much for them (specially my father, what will he tell the people??)
As I mentioned above, I apologize for providing potentially harmful advice. After reading about your parents and how they reacted to your decision about a simple college major, I feel chagrined. It sounds like you are still young enough to be in the shadow of your parents. You aren't asking, "what do the folks back home think?" You're asking, "will I be excommunicated again and possibly be cut off from any funding?" I haven't lived at home in nearly 15 years. I can't even get my parents to visit me, and they're retired. In contrast, you have a heavy load and it doesn't seem like I can help carry it.