By Anna Corbett-Neal, Opinion Editor
Over the summer, I got married to the love of my life. But with my happiness often came judgment from those who didn’t know our story.
Some might be shocked to learn that I got engaged at 19 and married at 21. I recall being asked what the ring on my finger symbolized while at work and being judged if I told a customer that it was an engagement ring. The most common response I received was, “But you are so young,” a fact I was very well aware of.
I met my husband, Jett, in preschool when we were put into the same class. My family told me that I came home after the first day raving about a little boy with blue hearing aids who I thought was cute and sweet. We had quickly become best friends and started “dating” in fifth grade. Although we were a bit too young to call it dating, we still count it toward our years together.
We stayed together throughout middle school and high school, never once breaking up. This often made us the go-to people for relationship advice. After eight years together, we got engaged in March of my freshman year of college and married on June 15 of this year, after celebrating our 10th year together.
Being married while still in school comes with its challenges, but I wouldn't want to spend this life any other way. Every struggle is worth it because I didn't let the opinions of others hold me back from the future I wanted or from the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
Being young doesn't automatically make someone naive, despite what many people believe. Our life experiences make us who we are. I want to tell my story to encourage those around me who might know what they want but fear judgment from others.
Ask yourself this: Is this your life or someone else’s? Remember to take risks, be with the people you love, and don’t be afraid to take the next step. You never know where life will take you when you shake off the opinions of other people.
PHOTO: Anna Corbett, Opinion Editor
