Friends are important. Emotionally, we need other people. It’s unhealthy to keep things bottled up to ourselves all the time. But, it’s also unhealthy to rely on others for everything. Recognizing that you can be okay independently is an important life lesson. Once you learn that you can be independent, you gain a whole new self-confidence. I was always told that it made me seem cold when I chose to be independent rather than rely on a group. No one ever told me that it was okay to be independent, that is until I witnessed the nature of an intern on the television show “Grey’s Anatomy”, Cristina Yang. These are the lessons I learned through her character's evolution about how I can be fiercely independent without coming across cold to "my people." Let’s be real, sometimes we all need somebody to be there for us. We can’t do it all alone. It’s figuring out how to balance reliance and independence that is the key to happiness and success.

I learned that my dreams are worth it. You don’t want to end up regretting not going after what you’ve wanted your entire life. You have to stand tall and if you want something, go for it. Sometimes that road is better taken alone.

I learned that it’s okay to not want to tell people your business 24/7. It is important to keep things to yourself. People do not need to know everything. Privacy is important. Sometimes, we don’t want all the attention and everyone knowing our secrets.

I learned not to let a guy or friends stand in the way of what I want. Friends are meant to support you, not to take away from your goals and your aspirations. If you find that a friendship or a relationship is hindering you, it's time to let go.

I learned that when I put my mind to something and focus, I can accomplish anything. Doing something alone is very empowering and leaves you with a sense of accomplishment like none other.

But the most important lesson I learned is that you can’t alienate people along the way. You have to find the balance between independence and dependence. You have to be a person your friends can rely on. At the top, it will get lonely if you are all alone. Let's face it, we all need our person from time to time. Some journeys you need to take alone, but some you need a friend by your side