How to remove cartilage earring?

I got my ear pierced in my upper cartilage a few months ago. Its not really healing, its still kind of sore and maybe getting infected and also I'm either going to a private high school or boarding school next year and you're not allowed to have them so i want to take it out. its just a normal earring but the back seems really tight and im kind of scared to just full out yank it off! i took it out and put it back in once but my mom kind of helped me and i want to do it myself s it (hopefully) doesn't hurt that much! ARe there any tricks or anything that just makes it easier to take off? the piercing itself is quite sore too so it makes it harder! Thanks :)