As of late, I've seen an influx of young couples getting engaged with articles circulating the internet detailing the judgments they've received from friends and family. A year ago, I would have likely been on the side with the opposition questioning why they feel the need to rush their relationship.

But that was a year ago and if I've learned anything, it's that there's no stopping love so we need to stop judging it.

It's our instinct to assume marriage will occur in our late twenties, early thirties. It's often what our parents did so it's what we've seen but just because it worked for them doesn't mean it has to work for everyone.

One of the main arguments I've seen against young marriage is that the aspiring newlyweds don't know what real life can do on a couple, but as far as I'm concerned, we are all currently living "real life." I'm sitting here right now, breathing (but barely because life has me too busy), and that in itself proves my point. I may not have a full-time job yet with a steady income, but I'm working as a full-time student and that should be enough. I know about hardship and how I need to handle it with my relationship but for some reason, age seems to be a huge issue in many minds.

Just because someone doesn't have a mortgage doesn't mean they don't deserve marriage. Stop judging people and let them do what they want. Sure, there's a chance their marriage will fail, but that can happen to anyone, not just young adults. Almost all of my friends' parents are divorced, so why are they judging other couples for trying to expand their love?

Just because someone isn't as old as you doesn't mean they don't deserve or understand love. We are conditioned to feel and express love since the day we were born, so why should someone stop it now? One of the biggest issues with relationships is that people are afraid. Afraid of judgment. Afraid of failure. Afraid of disappointment. And the worst part is that many of these fears are embedded in a person by someone who loves them. They feel the need to live up to their expectations, not their own.

I don't know where the notion came from but many believe that before you figure out life with someone else, you have to do it alone first. I do think that there is some knowledge in that, like how you must love yourself before someone loves you, but it's not always black and white.

Most of us grew up with assistance from our parents. They were our stepping stools, shoulders to cry on, and words of advice. We've never been truly alone which has always been deemed fine until it comes to a relationship with a significant other.

If someone wants to figure out college with someone, let them.

If someone wants to get their first jobs with someone, let them.

And if someone wants to go through the ups and downs of life with their husband or wife, even if they are young, let them.

Stop thinking about money being the biggest component as to whether a young couple should get married. The worst part is that those who are judging aren't often worried about how the wedding will be paid for, but rather how much it will cost if they get divorced. These lovers are in a seemingly doomed relationship to an outsider's eye and it's awful.

This pessimism needs to stop. As individuals, they will continue to grow and become better people. As a couple, they will be able to become even stronger because they will be able to tackle all of life together as husband and wife, or husband and husband, or wife and wife. This idea that just a few years will change their relationship drastically for the better is confusing to me. The couple will still be together for that time so what difference does it make if they're wearing rings?

Also, just because a young couple gets engaged doesn't mean that they are getting married right away. Some people I know just wanted to enjoy that next step in their relationship but don't plan on getting married for another two years. They still need to graduate college so there's no rush in the ceremony part. There's this idea that engagements shouldn't last more than a few months to a year. Don't get me wrong, there's some logic behind it, but instead of it being deemed as that time between dating and marriage, it should be completely separate.

Many engagement periods are remembered as stressful. It was the time the couple was figuring out all the wedding plans and didn't enjoy it for what it is: a crucial and beautiful time in a relationship. I think it's smart that these young couples are enjoying it, so instead of judging them, learn from them. Oftentimes, these people are being ridiculed for "rushing" their relationship when in reality, they're doing the opposite.

Next time so you see a young couple get engaged, don't immediately form judgments, wondering how they will last or if they will be successful. Let them figure it out and mind your own business. Work on your own love life and until yours is perfect, don't pass ridicule on someone else's.