<p>Let’s see, independence-wise I’ve:
-done Christmas shopping by myself
-been to another continent without my parents (but with friends and teachers)
-been to Washington D.C. by myself without knowing anyone
-gotten a job during the summer (though I can’t seem to find another during the year)
-liked things no one else likes
-been in school clubs none of my friends are in
-applied to schools no one else has and that are pretty far from home</p>
<p>I want to be independent. Actually, the last step I need to take is to get a job. That’s proving rather hard, though, because I don’t have much experience and it seems people don’t understand that you need to start somewhere. </p>
<p>I’m pretty sure I’m more independent than most of my friends, though.</p>
<p>I regularly rode the bus in Seattle by myself when I was 6 or 7 and I found my way back to our hotel in NYC via the subway system when I was 8. I flew by myself from LA to Ottawa when I was 15, and this past year I flew from LA to Hawaii by myself. Paranoid, overprotective parents FTL</p>