“I’m Linda, 26 years old, and I’ve been divorced for 7 years. Most people are surprised when they hear that—I got married young, far too young, and divorced even younger. But I don’t see it as a failure. To me, divorce is about courage—the courage to let go of what no longer serves you and embrace the possibility of something better.”

At just 18, Linda believed in the fairytale. Her high school sweetheart proposed shortly after graduation, and with stars in her eyes, she said yes. Everyone told her they were too young, but she was determined to prove them wrong. For a while, it was exciting—the new apartment, the feeling of building a life together—but soon, reality set in.

Their dreams didn’t align. He wanted to stay in their small town, content with a predictable life, while Linda dreamed of exploring the world, pursuing a career, and discovering herself. The love they once shared turned into resentment, arguments, and silence. At 19, she made the hardest decision of her life: to leave.

The divorce wasn’t just the end of her marriage—it was the beginning of her transformation. Linda moved to a new city with nothing but a suitcase and a dream. She worked multiple jobs to put herself through college, discovering her passion for graphic design along the way. She made friends who became like family, traveled to places she’d only seen in magazines, and learned to love herself in ways she never thought possible.

Looking back, Linda knows she made the right choice. “It wasn’t easy,” she admits. “I was scared, broke, and full of self-doubt. But leaving wasn’t just about walking away—it was about walking towards a life that felt authentic to me.”

Now, at 26, Linda has built a life she’s proud of. She’s thriving in her career, traveling whenever she can, and embracing the freedom to live life on her own terms. “Divorce isn’t about failure,” she says, her voice full of conviction. “It’s about courage. And sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is choose yourself.”