First off, well done Chris! It's good to see another pilot in the making, especially at such an age. I wish you luck with the remainder of your course.
hoey5o; Get a grip. Your comments would incense a number of people my age who fly.
As someone who soloed at 16 I can honestly say that all I asked of my parents was a lift to and from the airfield at the weekend, and perhaps a bit of pocket money. I doubt it even amounted to that much given that I was holding down a weekend job at the time too. I've always had a passion for flying and so pursued it through whatever means I could. In my case, the Air Training Corps largely helped me to realise this, along with a scholarship from GAPAN. Once I had completed my PPL I worked as much as I could to continue flying, and still do now. I suspect that the total amount my parents have contributed to my flying to date is minimal.
Flying for people my age (19, incidentally) is not the preserve of those with rich parents, it's due to the fact that we give time, effort and perseverance to what we want. Attributes that should be encouraged, surely?
ASI