To anyone who has seen my engagement ring, asked how old I was, and smirked and said, "Good luck!"

Yes, I know. I'm crazy. At 20 years old, how do I know who I want to be with for the rest of my life? Before I'm even 21, I will be legally bound to another person, responsible for their decisions as well as my own. Before you even open your mouth, I know what you're going to say: "You're giving up so much!" That's the mantra I've heard over and over again in the 2 months since my engagement. Sure, there are some "Congratulations!" thrown in, but they're always served with a side of long looks and casual judgement.

Let me stop you right there. Just, stop.

Let's start with a question: what am I giving up? Most people my age are midway through their college career, spending their Friday nights (and Saturday and Sunday and every other day of the week) at the bar, spending money and time on fancy drinks and drunken hookups. And that is totally, 100% fine. But, I don't want that. I want my Friday nights to consist of How I Met Your Mother marathons, cuddled up next to my soulmate and the clingy cat we adopted together. I want my Saturdays to be spent at concerts, with my arm around my best friend, singing along and taking blurry pictures. Maybe I'm giving up experimentation and mystery and first kisses, but I am not giving up adventure and excitement and romance. I'm still going to travel the world, but instead of wandering alone, I get to wander side by side with the love of my life.

Here's what I ask of you: please stop wishing me luck. I don't need luck. I need prayers, support and advice. It's going to take hard work, dedication and commitment. In no way do I think that this is going to be easy. It's not going to fun all the time. It's going to break me down and shape me into a different person than I am now. But, you know what? I don't need luck: I have him.

Above all, don't say "good luck" like you know that I'm making some big mistake, and here's why: I am so lucky. Some people only get a few years with the one they love; I'm going to get a lifetime. I never have to struggle through anything alone anymore. I have a built-in best friend. At 20 years old, I can look down at my left hand and know that I have found the one whom my soul loves.