Unsure of what to do with my life... Any advice?

I'm a twenty year old who is currently enrolled in community college. I had planned on transferring to a local four-year university in the Spring of 2017 and wanted to study graphic design. I was going to email the university's graphic design and animation director today to see what steps I should be taking to get into the program. I'm only planning on, or was planning on doing this because I love to draw. I'm a natural artist and feel like I should take the path of becoming an artist. There is however a huge stigma, especially living where I do (Northern Virginia) about choosing a career like that. I don't want to be slaved down though and herded, spending my time on Earth doing something I don't like doing and going on and on... I want to pursue a four-year degree because I have noticed that I am growing intellectually... but I don't want to have my destiny dependent on a degree that will end up having me do something I ultimately don't feel right doing... (Becoming an office drone, or working to have someone else's dream come true.) I wouldn't even mind becoming a tattoo artist and spending my free time writing or creating other works of art until I become a master at what I do and am able to charge a good fee for my works. That seems pretty ideal, actually. I feel that when I'm on my deathbed I can say to myself that "I took the path less travled, the one that made me happy, and that made all the difference in my life." Not that I took the secure path that everyone is pressuring me to take. Any advice? Anyone ever been in a situation like this before that can relate? How do I tell my parents (who are paying for the marjority of my college) this? My mom is understanding but my dad on the other hand...

on what subject do you want to pursue your degree ? is it something that will allow you to make a living later on ? can you use this knowledge in any way in art ? or vice versa ? I would suggest you get your degree : it's always good to have something of value to put in your cv and be able to get a job with it : it's good to have a foundation you can of course let the whole thing drop and run off doing your art but if it doesn't work or doesn't bring in enough money - how will you do when you're 10 years later and you maybe then have other goals or desires ? even if it's not necessarily super exciting - I would put in the hard work to get yourself a good basis - and see from there - when you get there : meanwhile you can pursue your art on the sidelines :)