I was in the same situation as you when I was 20 with a cabair scholorship which meant working as a slave for 2 years as an instructor living in a caravan.
My parents refused point blankly to cover the loan.
10 years later I earned all the money and completed the training for 20k less than they were asking at the time.
A similar situation here, but caravan? You were lucky! I slept in the car park at Biggin Hill in my Fiat Panda for my nights than I can remember! But I bet you appreciate it all now? The one's moaning the most on the flight deck are the one's that have had a relatively easy route into the airlines.