When I was 18 years old, I went off to college and found myself in a new city, living on my own, feeling very alone. In this time on my own, I learned the importance of independence and discovered that there are some benefits to being alone. For me, there were five things I learned to do on my own that I feel will stick with me for the rest of my life. There are five things I will make sure my daughters know how to do on their own. Five things that I feel are incredibly important for all girls to be able to do on their own, without any help.

1. Putting on your own jewelry.

I feel every girl should learn how to put on jewelry on their own. Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, every girl should learn to put them on herself. This is important because women use jewelry to dress up an outfit, to feel pretty, to accessorize. This is something you do for yourself, therefore, it's something you should know how to do yourself.

2. Zipping the backs of dresses and skirts.

I can remember struggling as an early teen to put dresses and skirts on that zipped in the back. My arms never seemed long enough, my elbows couldn't always bend the right way, and I always ended up needing help. As I grew up and moved out, I realized that there are some things you just need to know how to do by yourself. Putting on a dress is one of them. So practice. Learn to zip your dress yourself and wear that dress knowing that you are independent.

3. Cooking a meal.

I still don't know as much about cooking as I would like to, but I think it's a very valuable lesson to learn to cook for yourself. Now, before you begin thinking this is some sexist ploy to "learn to cook so you can get a man," hear me out. Cooking a meal is not a sexist thing. Cooking a meal is not just something a woman should learn to do. Everyone must eat and everyone has the right to eat foods that are good for them and that they enjoy. So learn to cook your favorite meals for yourself, not for anyone else.

4. Fix common household items.

At the age of 15, I learned to fix a toilet. To this day, it's one of the most valuable things I've learned. Fixing a toilet, unclogging a sink, fixing simple household items is important because these items are necessary and they don't always break at convenient times. Instead, they most always break at inconvenient times. If you live on your own, you are left to pick up the pieces so learn how.

5. Changing a flat tire.

Every girl should know how to check her oil, pump her own gas, but more than anything, a girl should know how to change a flat tire. I don't know how to yet, but I am planning to learn how very soon. It is dangerous for anyone to be stranded on the side of the road, so conquer that danger by taking action and learning how to get yourself out of that situation. It's very important.

All five of these things are important for us girls to know how to do for many reasons. Maybe we won't get married, maybe our spouse will leave or pass away. We can't be constantly dependent on someone else to be there to do the simple things. We, especially as women, need to be able to take care of ourselves.