I'm trying to help my parents understand why Y Combinator is worthwhile even if I fail, not only because it is more relevant to what I want to do (start a company) but also because it would allow me to gain skills that could be useful at a company even if I did fail. Because I very well might need to work at a company if I failed in order to make money to try again.
If you want your parents' approval, then I'm guessing you're not financially independent. I'd become self-sufficient first and take an internship. When you're ready to start a company with your own money or your own free-time, then go for it. Also, there are a lot of skills to learn in business/engineering, I don't see why you want to learn them all in the highest pressure scenario possible. My $.02.
