I’ve never been in a serious relationship. Translation: I’ve always been single, but that sounds too depressing, so I like to stick with the former.

I turned 22 recently, and it’s safe to say I never thought that it would take this long. Heck, not too long ago I would have been looked down upon for not being married by now. This is probably what I complain about the most to my friends and family. I’m not going to lie; I love my life. I have amazing friends and family, and I’m working toward a career I’ve always dreamed of. Even though so many things make me incredibly anxious at times, I am at peace with myself. They say you need to love yourself before you love someone else, and I think it’s safe to say I love myself. Whenever I feel down, I put on a girl power anthem to remind myself how awesome I am, and I feel better immediately.

Needless to say, there is one thing in my life that I feel is truly missing — someone to share it with. In this day and age, I could solve this problem easily by downloading an app on my phone, swiping right and have someone in five minutes. The problem is that’s not what I want, and that’s not who I am. I have used dating apps before, and I’ve hated it every single time, and it’s because I don't believe in hooking up.

Does it cross my mind often? Of course, I’m human after all. Sometimes I wonder if I just let that go for one night I could find someone fun and maybe it will turn into something, but I’m pretty sure getting a tweet back from my celebrity crush (a girl can dream right?) is more likely to happen than that.

Why? Because I know what kind of guy I want. Even though I have never been in a serious relationship, I have fallen in love and gotten my heart broken before (same guy), and he straight-up taught me what I didn’t want in a guy. I don’t want someone who is going to treat me like absolute garbage; I want someone who will treat me like the princess I am (cliche but true).

Since I figured out exactly what I didn’t want a few years back, I can say today I know what I want in a guy. What I want is pretty simple — a loving relationship. Someone to have fun with, someone to be by my side through the good and the bad, I want my person.

I would be lying if I said I didn’t have a type. Everyone does, whether they like to admit it or not. Although I keep an open heart and mind, I’m not going to change my standards or go for someone I don’t 100 percent feel it for just because it’s convenient. That is just leading someone on, and it’s wrong. One thing I have noticed recently is that there are guys around me who refuse to lead a girl on, and often just refusing to be a stereotypical John Tucker-type jackass. That takes real courage and good character, and I think it shows that I am really starting to hang out with more mature and genuine guys, a big step in the right direction.

And when I really think about it, if I’ve waited this long, I might as well do it right. As Snow White once said, “Someday my prince will come,” and I know he will someday.