Dear World,

I am single, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Yep, you read that right. All throughout high school, I felt all this unnecessary pressure from everyone around me to have a boyfriend and find a man that I could spend the rest of my life with. While I obviously did not find that man, I did find something else that I believe is far more important.

I realized that I don't NEED a man to be happy in life. Weird, right? From a young age, many girls are raised to grow up, get married, have children, and become housewives, and I cannot emphasize just how incredible that is. Seriously, y'all are awesome. However, I just feel like that life is not for me, at least not yet.

I want to travel. I want to go out on Saturday nights and not worry about checking in with a boyfriend when I get back home. I want to meet new people and go on dates and explore all that is out there in this wonderful world. I want to pursue a higher education without distractions. What I do not want is to be held back by someone who isn't moving forward in their lives like I am in mine. I don't want to have to check in with someone about where I'm going, what I'm doing, who I'm doing it with, and when I will be home. My mom is allowed to be that nosey, no one else.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with being in a steady, committed relationship at a young age; it's totally awesome and props to y'all for being able to do it. I just feel like there is so much to explore before I'm ready to settle down.

What many people don't realize is that there is so much satisfaction in being selfish during your college years, and I have no shame in doing that because this is the ONLY time in my life that I will be able to do so. I don't have to factor in someone else's opinion when I make decisions or worry about finding a balance between my relationship and my friendships. I think the greatest thing about enjoying being single is that I am so in love with living without a partner, that when one comes along they will have to knock my crocs off in order to grab my attention.

When I came home from college for the summer my pastor pulled me aside after the Sunday service and was asking me all the questions that normal mentors would ask; how my grades were, how the year went, if I had found a boyfriend, etc. In a passing comment, he mentioned something that stuck with me.

He looked at me and said, "Angelina, do everything you want to do before you get married, just trust me." I think he said this half jokingly but half serious. Being single means you can do what you want when you want with who you want where you want. You have no-one to answer to besides you, and honestly, it's so great.

Five years from now you may find me engaged in a committed relationship with the man of my dreams; but for now, you can find me traveling the world with me, myself, and I, soaking up each and every moment of me time that I can get.

Sincerely,

A girl who loves being single