You are the future CEOs, principals, world leaders and presidents.

You are strong. You are self-willed. And you are fearless. It’s your way or the highway. When making decisions, you consult only yourself, because why wouldn’t you? You know best. Your future only concerns one thing: you. And that isn’t selfish. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. You know what you want, and nothing will stand in your way. You are self-sufficient and sometimes it hard to fathom the fact that others might want to help you.

But from one independent woman to another, take my advice: let them.

Life is not meant to be done alone. You need your tribe around you to support you when you can’t support yourself. This does not make you weak, it makes you human. I know that you have larger-than-life plans for yourself, always chase those and never live small, but also know that it is okay to incorporate others into those plans. Don’t plan everything around another person, I know you can’t. But take them into consideration, they are in your life for a reason. You’re going to want people to celebrate with you when you succeed, but also cry with you when you will inevitably fail. You, and so many others, are already aware of the fact that you are more than capable of taking care of yourself, but this doesn’t mean you have to So don’t be afraid to let people in, as much as you think so, you were not meant to do this crazy thing we call life alone.

You are going to need to people who challenge you and who push you. No one can do everything on their own 100 percent of the time. You need people who are on your side who can both understand you and criticize you in the best way possible. A leader is nothing without her followers. And likewise, a leader is nothing without her influential mentors who walked before her. Take advice when someone is willing to give it, but also know when it is necessary to stand your ground. Even though you strive to be at the top remeber that you cannot get there on your own.

But don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself. And chase what you want. Your independence is what makes you you. It is admired by so many. So never apologize for being put-together, or confident, or even challenging. So many times we are taught to downplay ourselves, but you should live your life unapologetically. At the end of the day, you are the one who has to be comfortable with yourself and proud of your accomplishments. It’s already hard enough being a woman in today’s society. So why make it any harder for yourself? Be vibrant, be bold, and be in control of your life.

Don’t be afraid to be your own hero, but remember, it’s okay to have heroes too.