...Can one actually become truly independent without being financially mature...
What is independence to me?
Independence is the moment when I have the ability to make decisions concerning every aspect of my life without having forceful opposing power over these decisions. The moment when I can say I can choose to go anywhere, to be anywhere, to live the life I want.
In general, independence is earned after earning the respect of your parents and not being trapped by only following the decisions they make for you. To do this, it is not an easy task. It takes a lot of growth in age, responsibility, and personal finance.
Age contributes to attaining independence but yet, there will be lapses and a lack of respect if you cannot take responsibility for your finances and have total dependence on your parents. One does not need to be totally independent financially from his/her parents to attain dependency but being able to settle some personal finances themselves and also being able to contribute to the family would go a long way.
Independence is an important milestone for every child, I believe a child would fully enjoy his life at the point when he is independent because of the respect he earns from not just his parents but also from friends. Having independence also boosts your self-esteem and helps you believe in yourself and the decisions you make.
Before I earned respect and independence from my parents, I had always watched my brother being free to make his decisions and having control of his life while I was bent to do everything my parents asked of me. I envied my brother; in fact, I wanted his life and I didn't know how I could be independent. I didn't know how I could earn the respect of my parents but somehow I finally did.
THE FIRST TIME I FELT INDEPENDENCE
The first time I felt a sense of independence was when I entered school. Gaining admission into the polytechnic back in 2016–2017 gave me a sense of independence and respect from my parents. That was the first time I actually had the freedom to fully make decisions in which my parents would not be involved, while also taking full responsibility for the outcome.
Regardless, I would not say I had gotten 100% respect from my parents because I was also 100% dependent on them financially. I could not survive on my own without having to receive a penny from them. In fact, my mom even came to visit me very well in school to check up on me because she was not fully sure her son could take good care of himself.
But as I grew older and matured in knowledge and wisdom, I met friends who introduced me to Hive and started making a means of income for myself. I started being able to take care of certain needs for myself and support the family in ways I could, and I began to earn more respect from my parents. I began to feel what freedom means to myself financially, as well as the respect I earned from my parents.
The way they speak to me when they want me to do something has totally changed. It has turned from a demanding tone to a requesting tone. From the looks of it, I am no longer a child but now a man who can make his own decisions and take responsibility for them.
The time when I felt truly independent was the moment I was financially capable of supporting the family. It was the moment I was able to do things for my parents, my siblings, and myself. The feeling of respect earned from them is the true feeling of independence.