Should I move out at 18?

I'm a 17-year-old female living with my overbearing father and like most teenage girls, I want to escape that. I know it may seem like the cliché situation in which the typical teenager wants to escape "Daddy's mean rules" but it's not that at all. I may want freedom, but it's not to do what I want. It's to grow up and take responsibility in my life.

My father constantly mocks my ambitions. Instead of being supportive of my decisions, he does all he can to make me change my mind. For example, I chose a presigious college that fits my needs and personality but instead of cheering me on, he shrugged and suggested a college closer to home that doesn't even offer what I want to major in. I mean, he even denounced my career choice which I'm very passionate about. To make matters worse he henders my progress to do things I need to do. When I turned 15 he allowed me to receive my learners permit so that I could learn to drive but shortly after he made every and any excuse to keep me off the road. The only way I was able to get driving experiance was through my mother, who I barely see, and my boyfriend illegally. Two years later and I'm still stuck with the same learners permit. I want to get a job in order to rack in some savings for college, but he also prevents me from such. Even if he were to allow me, I wouldn't be able due to no license. And what's even more insane is he doesn't even allow me to do volunteer work for my school clubs.

I believe I could live with all this if it wasn't the emotional strain he puts me through. I constantly work my butt off to prove myself to him. So much that I've earned several awards and a flawless 4.0 GPA record for five years while pushing through Honors and AP courses. But no matter how many perfect report cards I bring home, he criticizes me. If my A is not a solid 100, it's not good enough even though these "not so good" grades mark me as one of the top 3 of my class and have landed me spots in the National Honor Society and Beta Club. I have even been so acedemically successful I already have college credits and am already accepted by my chosen college. But he doesn't even notify such, he just shrugs and goes on. His criticism is the closest thing to acknowledgment I gain and it's frustrating. It strain myself to make him proud but it's useless. But I continue on because I know anything less and it would be worse.

But he doesn't only emotionally strain me in that way. He's also always so negative and hostile. He's always yelling, always complaining, always hating... I can't allow myself to live with so much negativity. I'm like a sponge, I soak in what I'm exposed to and every time I take that hostility with me and I take it out on someone who didn't deserve it. I feel so terrible when I do that so I do my best to stay away from home. After school I try to convince a friend to hang out and drop me off at home afterwards. Or when my boyfriend doesn't have to work, I stay with him as long as possible. Sometimes I even go to the neighbor's house after school to avoid going home. When weekends come around I'm always all too eager to visit my mother when she's not working out of state. I'm tired of avoiding home, if I can even call it that anymore.

That's why I want to leave. I don't want to live in that stressful, negative enviroment anymore. I need a home I want to be at, that I can actually relax in after school.

I already have my plan. Once 18 I want to move in with my boyfriend of four years who is financially stable and has an appartment in the city, close to school and a walk away from multiple eligable employers. It would also be convenient for volunteering and club activities. Plus, it's in a nice area near several community lots that I've taken interest in. I also would be able to spend more time with my boyfriend, which I always enjoy.

Of course, I have my concerns. Before I go on, I'm not worried about living with my boyfriend. He's very supportive of me and has been there for me since 5th grade when we became best friends. The only worry that relates to him is my dad's reaction to my moving in with him. Yes, my dad is aware I want to move out at 18, and he's not thrilled, but I'm terrified to let him know I'm moving in with my boyfriend. He's a little old fashioned and doesn't believe in unmarried couples living together so I know it won't go over well. I also am afraid of some of my other family's reactions because they're all heavily religious and preach the Bible at every breath. I'm also worried about hurting my father's feelings in general. I'm his only kid and I'm afraid he'll think I'm abandoning him but I can't be smothered by stress or expectations anymore.

I know I'm technically still a kid and that this is a little crazy, I just feel like I need to get away.

I really need advice so please give it.

Should I leave even if it may risk hurt feelings? Or should I stay to please my father?