Independence

This week I have Monday and Tuesday off for my fall break, so I bought a ticket to visit Ben. I feel so independent buying and booking my own ticket, and taking the public bus to and from the airport...
Independence has become an extremely common feeling for me. The novelty of not calling my parents and telling them where I am and what I'm doing every weekend is not accompanied by a sense of relief, but more a feeling of acceptance. During high school, my parents were always very understanding and lenient, which I am extremely grateful for. As I watch many of my peers struggle with their new freedom, I feel comfortable with my personal ability to make intelligent and practical decisions. Since I have been at college, I have had a friend taken to the hospital for alcohol poisoning, I have seen a friend drop out due to slipping grades. Along with these cases, I have witnessed several other people display poor decision-making skills, due to independence thrust too suddenly upon them. I am so thankful for the perfect preparation I received from my parents in readying me for my recent freedoms. Mom and Papa taught me to be pragmatic and responsible, they showed me how to make the right choices, and these skills have thus far kept me out of trouble, and guided me on the path to what I hope will be success. I would like to thank my parents for providing me with these skills, and tell them not to worry about me. I will be smart, keep my grades up, not party too hard, and call them often...