My family pressures me to study abroad despite being in debt

I am a sophomore student at a top university and am currently on a leave of absence. My family members are manual laborers and not very well-off, and we have a debt of nearly VND1 billion (US$41,000).

I have a relative in the U.S., so my family wants me to study there. However, this requires taking an additional loan of VND500 million to support my application process. My family already struggles with our existing debt, so adding more to it is almost unbearable to me. And though my family insists that they want what’s best for me, I know everyone thinks repaying this debt will become my responsibility.

I do not want to study abroad either. I do not want to face the challenges I may encounter in a foreign country. I do not want to feel lonely and alienated, and I do not want to return to Vietnam with a mountain of debt.

Moreover, my family has suggested illegal ways to ensure my settlement in the U.S. post-graduation, including sham marriages, which I detest. I want to stay in Vietnam.

I am extremely stressed and have repeatedly told my family that I do not want to go. Despite my protests, my family strongly opposes this, calling me naive and foolish for not having a broader vision.

I just have no passion to live and work in the U.S. I want to live and decide my own life. I think I can still help my family pay off the debt if I stay in Vietnam and assist my parents as well.

Is staying in Vietnam selfish in my case? What should I do?