Independence is defined as freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others. Whether it be cooking their own food or doing their own laundry, college students all over the country have had to deal with being out on their own.
Out of state students especially have had to cope with being hundreds of miles away from their home and families. Californian, and out of state student at Rutgers University, Jocelyn Swift tells YHM what makes someone independent.
Jocelyn: I am independent because I don’t allow the opinions of others dictate how I live my life. I have learned that I have to live my life for me and no one else. I trust myself and know that no matter what life brings my way, I have the power to excel and achieve my goals.
I am independent because I know that being myself is enough, and that I do not have to be bound to society’s image or perception of who I am supposed to be.
I believe the formula to independence is to chase your dreams, keep reaching for success and continue to believe in yourself. I live my life with purpose and everything I do, I do it with a 100 percent effort.
I’ve learned that with independence comes responsibility. It is more than living on your own, or paying your own bills. I believe that when you find independence you find out who you truly are.
You have to take the time to know yourself, embrace who you are, and use your gifts and talents to live in this world with purpose and intent.
The most important thing I think people need to do before they achieve true independence is to learn to love him or herself wholeheartedly.
You can’t be independent if you don’t love yourself. People in this world will not hand you any favors. It is up to us and us alone to make things happen for ourselves.
Without love for yourself you will not have confidence in yourself. Without confidence there is no way that you will be comfortable doing things on your own because you will never have trust in your own abilities.
People need to live for themselves, think for themselves, and act for themselves, to achieve what is best for their life. Once you are aware of who you are, you have already established your independence because you are living for you.