“Is this guy really worth it?”

If I could tell my high school dean one thing, it would be, “I told you he’d be worth it.”

I’m young, independent and in a committed relationship. Sounds impossible? It isn’t. I’m 22 years old and my boyfriend and I have been together since our teens. After making it through high school and our college careers, some people thought we were crazy for wasting away some of the “best” years of our youth.

Since we’ve been together, we’ve been a part for long periods of time, both focused on our future careers and we’ve both had time to go out and enjoy our independent lives. Together, we’ve been on numerous vacations, gone to concerts, out on date nights and been the typical couple.

Being in a serious relationship at a young age has made me more mature and has given me a sense of perseverance which has allowed me to focus on being myself and being loved for it. I don’t waste my time worrying about if I’ll ever fall in love and if anyone will ever be in love with me because I’m living it.

Throughout this period of growth and constant change, we’ve been each other’s cheerleaders, constantly reassuring each other of our strengths and dreams. We’ve seen each other grow and be a part of some of the best accomplishments together. Through the good and bad, we’ve been through it and have come back stronger than ever—together.

He’s the person I can force into attending awkward family gatherings, the one who forces himself to eat Mexican food on a regular basis because it’s my favorite and the one who’s always down for a Dunkin Donuts run for black iced coffee and strawberry-frosted donuts.

In turn, I’m the person he forces to watch Everybody Loves Raymond with, the one who stops alongside him just to look at airplanes that are passing even though I’m not able to tell the difference between them and the one who’s always down to hear his latest work chronicle.

Some people call your 20s the “selfish years” which are meant to only focus on building yourself up. But, I’ve found what some people search their entire life for. I’m happy and committed to building both of us up. I’m not “young and foolish” and blinded by the idea of a relationship.

I’m young and in love with someone who also happens to be my best friend and inspires me to become the best version of myself.