Your happiness depends on deep seated contentment for YOU not your mother. I fully understand leaving.
My sister thought I was nuts when I turned down a lucrative job to enter the military, but I had decided it would bring deep contentment for me.
That is the issue here. I am not being cold, I am being practical.
I feel from reading your post that your distraction in class may be the conflict in fulfilling YOUR need vs. your mother's need.
Just my opinion and I fully realize it means nothing for you. It is just how I settled my predicament.