I figured I would share my story to hopefully inspire people in my age group about the positive benefits of GYOW.

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From a very young age, I saw the horrors of shitty relationships and the havoc they could bring on what should have been a happy life. I decided that that would never be me, and have always sought instead to focus on bettering myself primarily through education. I had a few romantic interest in high school, but never chose to get heavily involved with any of them, and cut that entire aspect of my life out when I dropped out at 15. In between the time of me dropping out and graduating with my GED at 16, I began to teach myself web development and networked with many other web developers my age to develop various websites. After earning my GED, I immediately enrolled at the local junior college and did spring, summer, and fall semesters until I graduated with my associates degree at 18. I moved out of state after that and enrolled at a university where I am currently working on my BS. Now 19, I have a nice job, my own apartment, brand new furniture, and two paid off vehicles. It's liberating to be able to go out by myself and treat myself to a movie, a nice dinner, etc. I have no one dictating what I do with my life except for me. That is the beauty of GYOW, answering to no one but yourself.