I am one of six children. I am the third oldest, the third one to turn 18, and start living my life (semi-) independently from my hometown and my parents. Between the three of us who have moved out and begun our lives, it's all been differently executed. My oldest sister went through a couple of rough patches, worked different jobs for a few years, and got married before deciding to go to nursing school. My older brother went to community college and decided he didn't like it, but is rising to success through carpentry. I decided to take a more classic route and left the state to study liberal arts in a field I love, work and go to school. The point is, even though the three of us did it differently, we are all doing just fine. I get so frustrated when people judge any one of us, or when people judge anyone for how they choose to begin their adult life. As long as we, as young adults, are trying, then no one should throw harsh words and unfair judgments around.

The gossip and unkind words are everywhere. Whenever I talk to people from my hometown, or even hear about people I don't know from friends at school, people like to think that their way of living is the only way of living. That's not fair. I know so many people from my high school who have had children, or found the person that they want to marry right out of high school, and so they begin their lives differently. Not everyone can afford college, so some just choose to work instead. Some people live with their parents, and some live by themselves; some have their own cars and are completely independent, and some are still working toward independence. Some of us are comfortable taking out student loans in order to get educated out of state, and some are working part time while starting classes at the community college. To me, all of these choices are valid. I knew personally that I wanted to study out of state and have a college experience at a liberal arts school, but some people aren't ready, or want to commit to a school far away before giving it a shot at home. It's not my place to judge the person who sticks around in my hometown just like it's not their place to judge me for leaving.

I'm not ready to be married and have my own children, but some people I know were ready for that responsibility, and as far as I can tell, they do an awesome job. Our peers deserve recognition for that instead of condemnation. The people who accept that they need to test the waters of higher education by taking a couple courses at the local college deserve respect rather than snide remarks. Those of us who were able to leave and jump right into four year schools deserve encouragement, not doubt or skepticism.

I don't think many of our lives today are what we imagined they would be like five years ago. As we grow and change, we figure out what's right for us and how we can become successful on our own terms. Just because people are doing things differently than we are doesn't mean that our way is the only right way to live life. Whether you're already living on your own, or waiting tables, or raising a baby, or going to school full time, you deserve respect for starting your life the way you want or need to. Keep doing you.