I am at an awkward age. I am considered old enough to do certain things such as drive, vote, gamble, rent a house or apartment, take out loans and even have my own credit card. But I am still too young to do other things like buy alcohol, rent a car, or take a cruise without needing someone over the age of twenty-five watching over me. This is an awkward stage of life. We have gone from having to ask permission to go to the bathroom in high school to now needing to make our own career and life decisions all within the same year. Marriage is one of those next big choices in this awkward stage of life. Why does there seem to be such a rush for so many my age to get married?

Many of the people that I went to high school with became engaged in the past year. I graduated in 2014, so they are 19 and 20-year-old young adults. Other people a grade or two above me got engaged and some even married after knowing their significant other for less than a year. I'm sorry––I'm all for a happy ending, but can we really believe that all of these marriages will last? Probably not. I honestly wish these couples all the best and hope that for their sake they know the seriousness of the choice they've made. While I understand that these people are obviously head over heels for their significant other I'm not convinced that this is a good idea in the long run. There are many, many reasons to wait a little longer to get married.

1. Becoming obselete

In this day and age we update everything regularly. Many people think they can upgrade a boyfriend or girlfriend as easily as they can upgrade their smart phones. This isn't hard to believe when hookup culture encourages us to shop for dates on apps like Tinder. Marrying early in a relationship can be set up to fail if this is the mindset of one or both individuals.

2. Lust vs. love

Early in a relationship there is intense passion and anticipation for this new person in your life. You see endless possibilities with this person and can't wait to see how things progress. The problem is that these feelings are fleeting. This phase is the "Cupcake Phase" as I like to call it, and once you have your first actual fight, shit gets REAL. Say what you will, but love, true love, is a choice. It takes work. Happily ever after is possible, but not without unwavering commitment on both parts––choosing that person day in and day out.

3. Finances

Starting your own life and getting through college with the cost of living as high as it is is tough enough without adding someone else and their financial situation to your own. Working a minimum wage job while going for your undergrad doesn't exactly make things easy for you and your future hubby/wife. There are plenty of big ticket items you'll need to pay for together like a house, insurance, your wedding and probably student loans among others without the help of mommy and daddy.

4. Rushing your relationship

Rushing your relationship with your partner can cause unneeded stress and even lead to a break up. Relationships tend to have a natural progression and I think as a rule it shouldn't be messed with or hurried. If one or both of you is pushing for the next level or step in your relationship that can be problematic and create tension where there formerly was none. Do not feel pressured to move further in your relationship if you have any hesitation; if things are meant to be they will be.

5. You're both growing

You and your significant other are both still growing as individuals. You most likely aren't the same people you were in high school, and you're far from done growing as a person. You also continue to grow in your relationship with each other. Emerging adulthood is probably the biggest transition of your life, so take time to enjoy it and really figure out what you want for yourself and your future. Again, there is not pressure in taking time to weigh options and figure out your life.

6. Impatience and ignorance

Newsflash! We are naturally restless at this age, and think we know a lot more about things than we actually do. We also live in a time where we can get instant gratification from social media in the form of likes; people have never been more accessible, allowing our impatience to be fed constantly. This overflows to just about every aspect of our lives. If you're like me you want to fast forward to having your degree, and having a stable job and home. Maybe a puppy or five to come home to. The reality is that we still have a lot of maturing to do, so making major, life-altering decisions might not be such a great idea just yet.

Marriage is a lifelong commitment in my mind. I do not intend to build a life with someone just to tear it all apart a few years down the road. I couldn't believe when I heard someone who was engaged say to me, "We're ready to get married. If we end up getting divorced, then we get divorced. Oh well." This ideology is what is problematic with getting married at a young age. If you think this way about your marriage, then you aren't ready to be married.

Again, I do not intend to offend anyone who is in this position, but I want to stress the importance of knowing the level of commitment you are setting for yourself and your partner by making this choice so young. I have been in a long-term relationship with my boyfriend for over two and a half years, and it hasn't been all sunshine and roses. As I've said, relationships worth having take work and commitment. Communication is also a big part of a healthy relationship; my significant other and I see a future with each other, but don't feel the need to act on anything right now. We also understand that we are still maturing as individuals as well as with each other, so there is no pressure to figure our lives out completely. We want to focus on college and figuring out our careers for right now, and see no need to rush ourselves. I also personally struggle talking myself into wearing real pants instead of leggings on a daily basis, so the thought of trying to adult well enough to be married at this stage of my life is beyond me. But for those brave committed souls out there, I hope your first marriage is your only one.