How can you tell if your partner is truly willing to stand up for you when dealing with their family drama?

Is it normal to process interactions differently after you’ve had time and space away from someone, or could there be a psychological reason why I seem to have better clarity when I’m away from my boyfriend?
I'm thinking about going to SNHU for an online degree. Will this open doors for me, or do I need to find other ways to stand out to employers?