"How many boyfriends do you have now?" It's the question I'm asked at every single family event I attend. I laugh uncomfortably and reply that, as usual, I don't have a boyfriend at all, let alone multiple. They chuckle and pat me on the back and tell me that I'm just "intimidating." Every time the conversation ends I'm left wondering what that even means.

No one tells you how terrible it feels when your high school experience doesn't live up to the expectations you set for it. As a kid, I expected that in high school I would have plenty of guys interested in me. I expected this because that's what I was told to expect from family members and family friends, but that couldn't have been more wrong.

Instead of this picturesque future that was predicted for me, I have had a less than perfect romantic experience. In middle school I was literally approached as an eighth choice to go to a school dance, whereas in high school I haven't been approached at all. My entire freshman and sophomore year were focused on whether or not I would finally get a boyfriend, and it ended up making me unhappy in the long run.

As a 16-year-old girl, I have bigger fish to fry than garnering the attention of guys. It's time to start asking questions about my future, no matter how stressful that may be. While I would much rather obsess over a new crush than think about college and what I want my career to be, the latter will be much more beneficial to me.

Instead of stressing over how likable I am, I'll cherish my final two years in high school by making irreplaceable memories with my friends and make the last two years before real responsibility kicks in as great as it can be. I'm only 16, and I plan to make the most out of my high school experience. If a boyfriend happens to come about during that time, I'll be happy, but I'll be just as content carrying on as normal if that doesn't happen.

Being single has taught me how important it is to love and accept who I am, which is one of the more recent ideas I've tackled. I've struggled with accepting me for me, because I felt that if I wasn't dating a guy that meant I wasn't good enough. After I realized just how backwards that type of thinking was, I felt a heavy burden lifted off my shoulders. I can only hope that every single person can realize their self worth as I have, because really, no one should validate the way you see yourself except you.

I'm proud to say I've realized just how beneficial having time to myself can be. I can grow as a person, mature and focus on my goals first. So, if you look at me and think just how sad it is that I'm still single, maybe you need to change your perspective.