why do you WANT to be a trader?
list to yourself, what you expect to gain from it, and include a line in that list, regarding whether or not you expect respect from your family or inner circle for your new job or work endeavour as a trader.....
also, why are your profits being eaten up with a $28 round turn commission structure?
either you have not stated full or complete facts or you're not looking at this in a professional / trader's mentality, but a disillusioned investors dreamy mentality...
why not consider option trading for the protection, leverage and magnification or your paultry balance that you're working with...
perhaps you can achieve your objectives there...
it really doesn't matter whether you stay with whom you are with, change to IB or Tradestation or any other broker until you come correct with your objectives in an honest manner....
to me,
it seems you haven't identified WHAT your objectives are...
also, some of the best advise comes from threads like ET, not as others have suggested otherwise