Why A Relationship Doesn't Define You | The Odyssey Online
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Why A Relationship Doesn't Define You

You are your own person.

Caroline Broscheid
Jul 11, 2016
Northern Kentucky University
331
Why A Relationship Doesn't Define You
Red Online

In our society today, it is expected that you have a significant other by your side for a majority of your teenage and adult life. Pressure from family, friends, and society force you to believe that you need a man or woman to be happy. Let me be the first to tell you that you don't. You do not need another person to make you complete.

Now I'm not saying never fall in love and never get married; having someone that loves you more than anything in the world is an amazing sensation. However, no one should be judged for being single. It's horrible that society makes single people feel unlucky, too damaged, or just not good enough for a relationship. With websites and magazines posting articles titled "Are You a Relationship Girl," "This Is the Secret to Getting, and Keeping, a Real Life Relationship," "Let's Bring Back Arranged Marriages," and TV shows like "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette," single people feel like crap! I'm tired of feeling like I'm just not good enough. Why can't I be happy without a man? Why do I need a relationship to define who I am?

I am a young college girl. I should be focusing on my studies and bettering myself for my future. Yet the only thing that has been on my mind during my entire college career is whether I can get a guy to like me, buy me dinner, and become my boyfriend. Whenever I see friends on Facebook change their relationship status or post pictures with their significant others, my heart drops to my stomach and I feel bad about myself. This shouldn't be how I feel, or any girl. We shouldn't aspire to be in a relationship just to change our status on Facebook, post couples pictures on Instagram, or post dozens on Snapchat stories about our boyfriend/girlfriend. You shouldn't feel obligated to do all those thing in order to be cool. Just because you aren't in a relationship, that doesn't make you lame, a loner, or antisocial.

In the end, you decide what defines you. The places you travel and the adventures you go on define you. The work you do and things you give back to the community define you. The love and support you give to those around define you. Never let these go for a silly relationship, because no man or woman can ever define the beautiful person you are.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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