For all my life, I have always been expected and encouraged to be a strong and independent woman. It's something that my mom drilled into me when I was younger, and looking back now, I really appreciate the person that she encouraged me to be. I am a strong and independent woman. I'm twenty-one years old, a senior in college, have a career plan, and hopefully a job by next fall. It sounds pretty independent to me.

The one thing that was never explained to me was being independent and being in love. Not just the little crush, or the guy you date for a few months just because you want someone to be around. I mean the "talking about our future" love. Not just the future that you have planned. Everything changes once you find that person.

Two years ago had I been asked what my post-graduation plans were I would have said I'm going to move back home and get a job. Live close to my parents for that support system, and travel as often as I could. Now, who knows where I'm going. At first, it was a little scary, I'm not going to lie. But now that I have found that strong woman inside myself, I am able to look our future in the face and dive in head first. Because I found that person that it's ok to be dependent on, yet still be independent.

Don't let someone tell you that because you're young you can't be in love. I've heard all the haters.

"Why get married so young?"
"Don't you want to be financially stable?"
"Are you sure that this is the best decision?"

You wanna know what my response is?

"Because I love him, and I can't imagine a future without him."
"I'm going to be a special education teacher, I'm going to struggle with or without a husband."
"And yes, this is the best decision because I get to spend the most time possible with him."

That's what matters. Not the questions that people ask you, but your response. Be independent, strong, and live against society's ideas of love and marriage. You are who you are. You know who you love. You are a strong and independent woman in love.