As I grew older, I expanded my professional resume with retail positions, internships and jobs geared towards my career interests. I came out of college and now have a full-time job (and this super fun writing gig to keep me sane on the side) and am working towards getting the things I want for myself in life.

I consider myself – and many women just like me – to be a part of something new: the New Generation of 20-Something Women. No more relying on a man to determine financial status, stability or success; we are independent and have our own individual goals. Our own plans. Our fate in our hands.

Growing up, I learned that if you want something, you need to rely on yourself to get it and not someone else. I am taking that theory into account and notice that more females these days are too. Years ago, women were expected to find a man, get married, have children and keep the household. Rather than growing up and looking for our Mrs., 20-something women today are looking for a job, life experiences, travel and, most importantly, a life for themselves.

It’s not only the man now-a-days that needs a woman to sign a pre-nup when they get married. Meaning, more women are creating their own success as individuals, before solidifying their life with a man. These women are more realistic to the facts that 50% of marriages end in divorce and, if you want to enjoy your life, you have to rely on yourself first and foremost. Are you with me ladies?

More and more women are coming out of college and getting great jobs (albeit, men are doing the same, not trying to bash you boys, just pointing out our pattern), rather than heading straight to getting a great man. If you can have both, like my lucky self, then you’ve got two great ends of the spectrum. But my point here is that women can have both. And women are starting to realize it and put their own wants and needs first. And I quite like that.

Are you one of these success-driven females? What’s your driving force behind your goals?

[Photo courtesy of LogoKey]

Apparently, there are loads of 20-Somethings just swarming the streets of NYC who are already married, buying houses, and having kids.

These “New Victorians” (as the article dubs them) are über-educated, über-driven, and kinda boring.

Most of them would rather spend the night at home with their significant other than go out on the town, renovate their bathroom instead of driving off on a road trip, and own 3 purebred cats instead of cruising by their local ASPCA for a big, hyper dog.

Somewhere along the line, these “New Vics” must have picked up enough money to do all these things by 27, because not many people I know in that age range have the kind of cash that allows for a steady, stable home in a city where a studio apartment can start at $1500 a month.

“I was at brunch with another couple the other day where all we talked about was farm shares,” exclaimed one interviewee barley over the age of 26, but sounding about 40.

In all my time in this city, I have never once talked about farm shares.

Someday I’d like to make it out to the country with a great husband and adorable kids, but I always figured it would be later. Living out your domestic bliss before you’ve had time to really work for it seems impatient—if not a little backwards.

If you’re redoing your bathroom at 28, what are you going to do when you’re 38? 48?? Redo it again?

So sure, my eyes tint a little green when I read about people my age who are comfortable and seem to have it all figured out, but coveting someone else’s life will get me nowhere. And if Britney Spears has taught me anything, it’s that having kids too young can seriously cramp your partying.

Besides, who knows? Maybe farm shares are still in my future.

Future being the operative word.