Americans view being dependent as a weakness. A dependent person cannot provide or take care of themselves, and they are seen as weak. Going off to college is important and life changing, because it is the first time young people have to be independent. This is part of the reason teens both look forward to and fear college. They want to be on their own and make their own decisions. However, they are in charge of taking care of themselves.
The American value of individualism plays into this. We want to be independent and be able to everything ourselves. I personally am very dependent on other people due to my visual impairment. I meet with a vision inteneriant during my free periods and she reads tests and some of my homework t0 me. I sometimes have to have my mom read my homework to me. When I am alone in an unfamiliar place, I have to depend on the help of strangers. It definitely bothers me that I am so dependent. I wish I could do my homework completely on my own. I feel so helpless when I have to ask strangers for help. I sometimes feel line a burden to my friends, because they have to lead me around when we go out. I know they don't mind doing it, but I wish I could be more independent.
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I think we see independance as success in America.
If you're dependant you can't possibly be as successful as the self made millionaire who built something all alone from the ground up.
Yet, I think independance is a lonely idea.
I'm sure it's difficult for you when it comes to having to depend on people because we all want to be independant, but I think independance can be lonely.
I like the thought of knowing that someone is there for me.
The whole idea of complete independance presents a lot of fear for everyone..whether we admit it to ourselves or not.
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