By Kristen Klempert

I’m a product of the Girl Power revolution, raised to be independent, intelligent, and inoculated against antediluvian discouragements like “because you’re a girl.” I’m as skilled with the contents of my toolbox as those of my makeup bag, as likely to discuss my favorite sports team with my girlfriends as my favorite leading man, and have my own opinions on everything from world politics to World of Warcraft. I know I can go anywhere, be anything, and do anything I’d like by myself. But that doesn’t mean I want to do it by myself. Yes, I dream of making my mark on the world, but also of Mr. Right and the white picket fence.

Growing up, I watched countless Disney princesses snag their happily-ever-afters despite dragons, enchantments, and less attractive villainesses. Now, however, I see there’s a reason knights rescue damsels from towers and not the business world, institutions of higher educations, and internships; the odds of success are much lower against the latter.

I work in a restaurant in the business district, the perfect location for a local white collar dating service to send its members for their initial rendezvous. The service requires a certain yearly income to join, which is probably why most of the women come decked out in professionally pressed suits, briefcases and blackberries in hand. It’s also probably why the majority of the set-ups have at least one member who arrives twenty minutes late, why they spend the first half of the date talking about their job, and why they’re in their late thirties and single. I always see these career ladies at the exit, some happy, others disappointed, but either way two steps from the door they’re back checking their loaded date book. Is that really what I want?

Then I listen to those of my classmates that are moms, finally going back to school now that their kids are older. They share methods of fixing home appliances, compare what major food groups their kids refuse to eat, and countdown the days until they’ll have their degree and can change their career. And although they glow about their children’s tee-ball teams, they seem tired, but restless and I know that’s not really what I want either.

So I’m left with finding a balance between these two opposing dimensions .As an empowered woman I can weigh the pro’s and con’s to choose between political candidates, but how can I decide between family or fame? Long term commitment or long term contract? See the world or the school plays? And once I settle on what I’m willing to sacrifice, can I really expect an understanding, supportive, unintimidated prince to come galloping out of some magical forest not to sweep me away, but to fall in step with all my plans? Optimists would say I shouldn’t have to choose; that whatever is supposed to be, will be. And while I hope to God they’re right, I have to wonder if Prince Charming ever followed Cinderella to another kingdom when she was offered the dream job in their happily ever after.