Upon entering high school, many girls envision finding the perfect person. Whether it is a boy or a girl, we are under a constant pressure of finding "the one." I lived a normal high school life. My freshman year, I did have a boyfriend. I received good grades and had the desire to join the cheerleading squad at my school. I was the girl that didn't have a prom date, but neither did my friends, so this wasn't a problem. We were never popular, but we got along with many people, so that didn't matter. We made it our mission to attend every school dance and have the time of our lives, with or without a boyfriend. By senior year, my GPA improved immensely, I was on the varsity cheer squad, accepted into college, and was extremely happy with my group of friends. Even though it was one of the peaks that I have experienced in my life, I was still judged because I didn't have a boyfriend.

Well, now I am in college and I still do not have a boyfriend. Following this, I am still not ashamed to say that I am single. Many of my friends have discussed this topic with me, as if I don't have the ability to vibe with other people. I have had concerned friends tell me that they are worried or that I am going to be alone forever. While I know that this is not the case, there are times when it seems as though I am the odd one out. Now attending college and being exposed to clusters of couples every day, there are times where I feel rushed to find 'the one."

These are the instances when I make myself take a step back. I often realize that having a boyfriend really isn't a necessity. What bothers me is that many girls today believe that finding a significant other will alter their mood. I am here to tell you that no, having a boyfriend or girlfriend will not necessarily make you a happier person. Although you may have those perfect Kodak moments with "bae," there are going to be times when your relationship will be complicated. When entering a relationship, one needs to make sure that they are doing it for the right reasons. You shouldn't get together with someone just because you're feeling lonely and sad, and you definitely shouldn't try to vibe with someone because your friends are out dating. Not having a boyfriend doesn't mean that nobody likes you, it just means that you have different priorities and have not yet found "the one."

Personally, I know that it is not the right time for me to have a boyfriend, and this is for a variety of reasons. To start, I am a sophomore in college, and it seems that every semester my workload grows in mass quantities. Along with attending class, I also love to be involved on my campus. Not only do I attend work study in the registrar office, but I hold leadership positions. On top of this, I have an off-campus job and I am three states away from my family, which is always on my mind. Knowing all of this, I know that I am not ready to be in a relationship and I have learned to accept this. At this point in my life, I am creating a future for myself, and I applaud anyone who is doing the same. Sure, some people can handle a full four years of college with a significant other, however, that just wouldn't work for me. These four years are about me, and if I find someone along the way, that is great. But it would be even greater for them to understand that I have to focus on other things until I graduate.

I would rather wait until I can put my full 110 percent into a relationship that I actually give a damn about, than date a plethora of men in my lifetime. I don't want to be passed around like some of the girls on my college campus. I don't want to be heartbroken by some jerk that isn't getting anywhere in life, and I don't want to put my time towards something that isn't going to result in a benefit to me.

This is what is wrong with most of the women in today's society: they believe that dating certain people will benefit their social status; however, half of the guys that they are dating are abusive in some type of way. One thing that I have learned through living in a co-ed dormitory is that even if a couple is picture perfect all over the internet, they could be experiencing extreme challenges behind closed doors. Instead of waiting for "the one," many people today believe that we have to go looking for them. I am not by any means saying that dating is bad, but at this point in our lives, it should most certainly not be a main priority. We need to find not only who we are, but where we want to be. I want to be with someone who will help me get there. I want to find someone who will encourage me everyday, and will accept that I may make more money than them in the future. I want to date a person who is sensitive to my feelings, and that I care enough to be sensitive to theirs. Yes, I also have dreams to find "the one," but you can't make things like these happen. You cannot rush into life. I believe that what is meant to happen will happen, and that one day someone special will walk into your life for a reason.

I know that this article will not please everyone, and I am still not ashamed. I believe that there is an emphasis on relationships because of the influence that the media has on our lives today, and this is wrong. Ladies, we do not need to marry a wealthy man because we need to have standards for ourselves. We need to have the drive to be successful and break through the impossibilities of our time. Men still hold dominant roles in places such as the business profession, and this needs to change. So stop focusing on your relationship status and go to school. Because when your forever man screws you over, you will still hold an education behind you.