As a single, 20-year-old college girl, I get asked the same questions all the time: “So do you have a boyfriend?” “When are you gonna bring a boy home for Christmas?” And of course the dreaded, “So when are you gonna get married?” The answer to all of these questions is simply no, and I don’t know, but what I do know is that it won’t be any time soon.

Since I grew up in a relatively small Southern town, a lot of people my age are already married with two kids and a little house in the suburbs with a white picket fence, and that’s wonderful for them. If that’s what makes them happy then I am so glad that they are able to live the life they always wanted to live. However, that has just never been the life I wanted for myself, and for some reason, a lot of people are unable to comprehend that fact.

Ever since I was little, I have dreamed of adventure. I have dreamed of running far away from my little southern town and truly seeing and experiencing this big wide world that we live in. I want to establish a life for myself, on my own, before I even think about bringing another person into the equation. Relationships are a partnership, and at of this point in my life, I’m not looking for a partnership. I have enough tough decisions to make and a future to figure out for myself without having to factor in another human being. And you know what? That’s okay.

Now, don’t get me wrong -- I am a hopeless romantic. Many of my best friends are happily in relationships. Some are even engaged, and I am so very happy for them. I love getting to see them find the person they want to spend the rest of their life with and watch their relationships grow. Relationships are a wonderful thing and, of course, getting married is definitely something I’ve always seen in my future. However, that’s just not what I wantright now.

College has taught me a lot about the person I am, and the person that I aspire to be. I have always set a lot of very high goals for myself, and I have a long way to go before I can reach those goals. As anyone who knows me could tell you, I have a lot of big dreams, and big dreams take a big amount of work and dedication. I have spent the last two years learning what I want out of life, and I am still learning more each and every day. For now, my focus is on figuring myself out, not figuring out which boy I’m going to bring home for Thanksgiving dinner.

I am only 20 years old, and I have a lot of growing up to do and a lot of life to live before I am ready to give so much of myself to another person. When that day comes, I’m sure it will be an amazing thing, but for now, I’m happy living my life, pursuing my dreams, and just being me.

I speak for myself and for all of the other happily single young women when I say that you don’t have to feel sorry for us. We are not the sad lonely girls just sitting at home on Saturday night wishing Prince Charming would come carry us off into the sunset. For any girl out there who’s worried about what people think of your wanting to be single, don’t give it a second thought. You do what makes you happy first, and then once you feel like you’re ready for a relationship, go for it. For now, though, just be you, do whatever feels right and never apologize for that.