Don't know what to do

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Hi anons, I've been feeling completely lost lately...

I took a degree in multimedia art, finished this year and graduated top of the class, and I've also done quite a few comissions outside for local bands and authors. I consider my work to be of professional quality, not wanting to brag but people really liked the posters, covers, t shirts and other projects designed. Problem is, the pay is a joke. It takes an awful amount of time to realize some of their really cool but complex ideas, and the reward for a month of work is less than going to a party entertain children for a day. Sometimes it feels really depressing.
So my family decided that I should go and finish my studies somewhere else, since international curriculums are much more valuable. I've applied for a few scholarships, I've yet to hear from some of them, but I'm really scared; I'm afraid my gf, who I really love and care for, will leave me during the 2 years I'll be away; I'm scared of failing and my family blaming me, they're really strict and try to avoid any kind of independence I can get, they only allowed this because it was their idea, for example, I could never get a summer job that would take place outside the house, only comissions or computer based jobs I could do from home...
Almost all my friends went away after the course finished, and I've almost no one to talk to about this... I still haven't told my gf I'll be going away, she doesn't take distance well and I think she'll leave me. I found a few masters in my country, both in animation and illustration, and started practicing tattoos with a friend, but at home they tell me all of those are basically useless, even though I love it and am learning well.

I don't know what to do anymore, any advice?