they are trying to protect you - your potential boyfriend is old enough to drink, drive and go uni, this opens his world to a number of potential girlfriends and experiences which you cannot join with him because your not of age- are you sure you want to put yourself through that? yes the age gap is only 3 years but 18+ is a transition for adulthood, which is why your parents are being protective because your still a teen and their child.i'd suggest waiting 2 years tbh, if its serious and he is what you think he is, either that or look elsewhere because defying your parents and prooving them wrong after how long will mean nothing, but you don't want to defy your parents and prove them rightgood luck
