Independence

Growing up I saw independence as just being on your own and not having to rely on the people around you. As my class and I start to talk and prepare for our lives after high school I have begun to see that independence is much more than that. As myself and everyone around me at school starts to make decisions for our futures, we have begun to think about many things that we haven't had to think about realistically until now. Where are we going to live? How are we going to pay for it? What do we plan to do with our futures? We are all taking our next step in growing up and have found a new meaning of independence. Independence is not about turning away from help, isolating yourself, or doing everything perfectly while on your own, it’s about learning to rely on yourself but knowing when to ask for help, being able to balance your freedom with your re-sponsibility, and taking the chance to grow during it all.

Independence doesn't mean cutting yourself off from others. A part of being independent is making your own decisions to show who you surround yourself with. This can mean having to go out and find your people and who you belong to go through life with. College is a great place to find a great support system and build relationships that you can keep for the rest of your life. So, even though being independent sounds like you should be alone, it really means that you get to make your own decision on the people you choose to spend your life with. True independence is being able to maintain healthy relationships while making your own decisions.

Being independent also doesn’t mean you will always have everything figured out. Being independent comes with its struggles. All the things that you decide to do are on you and you have to find a way to deal with any mistakes that you make along the way. Any challenges that come can lead to finding new things that need to improve. Being independent means being responsible for your actions and the way you act after failing. Learning from your mistakes can be one of the best ways to improve yourself while being independent. Each mistake someone makes can become a lesson to learn from.  It teaches perseverance which is another huge part of being independent. . So while being independent can come with many stumbles along the way, it also comes with growth.

Independence isn’t about doing the opposite of what’s expected just to prove a point of strength. Being independent means that you don't have to listen to what people say about you, whether it be good or bad. You get to choose to be your own moral compass and decide what you want to do with your life. This also means that even though someone is independent doesn't mean that they know everything. Taking advice from other people is not a determinant of being depend-ent. It can never hurt to have your personal freedom while still respecting the input of those around you that care about you.

In the end, independence is not about turning away from help, isolating yourself, or doing everything perfectly while on your own. It’s about finding balance by learning to rely on yourself while leaving room for support, accepting that mistakes will happen and using them as opportuni-ties to grow, and making thoughtful decisions that reflect who you truly are and want to become. As we all prepare to take the next steps in our lives, independence becomes less about standing alone and more about building a strong foundation for our future. Independence is an adventure of learning and adapting, and I look forward to seeing where it takes me, and my classmates as well,  as I get ready to leave after high school.