For awhile I perceived that being dependent on others was a weakness. Success only comes to those who are self sufficient and go and get it themselves. Yeah, that may be true. I can’t rely on anyone to help achieve my dreams. No one is going to go out of their way to hand it to me either. I understand that. I guess I have learned that from observing others who have… shall we say, “failed”. But for a while I also thought that the greatest sign of dependence was being physically close to your parents. I believed that the only way to achieve independence was to be far away from the people who could catch you every single time you fell. That is what drove me to college out of state. That is what made going to Austin seem so perfect. This was going to be my chance to solidify the indpendence I hoped for.
It was this summer spent in Austin that I learned that it doesn’t matter how far you are from your parents, independence is achieved when you take responsibilities for your actions and make your own decisions. My independence was earned years ago when I took control of my life. My parents never held my hand when I was dancing 28 hours a week while maintaing straight As in school. My parents never did my student leader work for me. That was all me. I made my lunch, and did my own laundry from the time I was in junior high.
Being near the ones you love doesn’t necessarily make you weak or dependent. It makes you feel connected to those who care.
Marissa Osowsky 