Why do people get so upset about people getting married at age 20 or 21? Is it because they really feel left behind, but are too proud to admit it because they have always put their school and career goals ahead of everything else?

People act as if getting married is condemning yourself to a lifetime in prison. Just because you are getting married, it doesn’t mean that you must give up what you love doing.

Today it is expected of women to choose careers over family, to prove that we are equal to men … but what’s wrong with wanting to stay at home and have children? Any man who has ever had to take care of children knows that it is a very tough and demanding job. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying all women should stay at home with the children. It’s a choice that each woman has to make based on her own opinion. I just think that people need to respect the decision, whatever it is, and not look down on those of us who choose to do it sooner than others.

I’m a full-time college student, married for one and a half years, and 21. I’m happy. I don’t think that age should matter in your decision to marry. Of course you’re going to be different at age 16 and 21. But, you’ll also be different at age 27, and age 35.

People change, it’s a fact of life. Don’t diss people who are ready to get married early in life, just because the average isn’t. My parents got married at 19, and are still married (22 years). My husband’s parents got married at 18, and are still married 31 years later.

Anna HarmonSenior Horticulture major