Likewise to both. I read one or two of Rand's books when I was a callow youth: fortunately, they had no effect on me. Her characters were so clearly of the cartoon variety.
I liked them some (they were still too long and had too many boring speeches) when a callow youth.

But I think the independence stuff is mostly about breaking away from the parental unit, and not fitting in as a teen, when your haven't even reached the age of majority. Selfish, what 16 year old isn't already selfish, just by being, in their parent's view? They all are. Adulthood is a whole different ballgame though.