There is a misconception that if you're in a serious relationship and I mean serious - engaged or married, that you have "settled" in all aspects of your life. Because you have found your person and know they are the one for you forever, it doesn't mean your life path has completely changed and you're supposed to give up on your major life goals. Why can't you have both?

If the person you're with actually loves you and is supportive of your goals and dreams, then you can have both and even more. Being in a serious relationship doesn't mean you're done living your life. It just means now you have another fucking awesome human being to go through life with.

And if you're someone who thinks you have to give up your academic and professional goals because you're in a serious relationship, then you have relationships all wrong. Yes, there will be times that you have to compromise here and there. But you definitely do not need to change your whole course of life because you found love. The stigma around serious relationships and the automatic judgement that people push onto you when they find out you are young and married or young and engaged is straight up hate. Also, it is 2019. Just because you're in a serious relationship that you're willing to make sacrifices for doesn't mean you care any less about your academic or professional path. This isn't back in the day where once a ring is on your finger, the inside of your house is where you spend all of your waking hours. We need to change the stigma around young women who are happily married/engaged. Plus, what makes me happy has absolutely nothing to do with you.

From experience, my academic and professional goals have only grown since I have been married. I am more confident in achieving my life goals because I have a strong support system. What I once thought was impossible and crazy, is now a reality. My sights have only been set higher and uncovering this potential in myself has been one of the greatest discoveries of my life.