When people find out that I’ve been dating the guy I met since the first day of college for a little over three years now, I can’t tell if they’re proud, in awe, or think I’m crazy. College is all about finding yourself and growing, as well as figuring out your future, and sometime in there we’re supposed to be making crazy memories and friends to put in our weddings one day. Why should we be wasting our time trying to find one person when there are so many people out there for us to meet? Just like relationships aren’t for everyone, taking part in the hook-up culture that surrounds high school, college, and twentysomethings isn’t for everyone either.
Deciding to be in a committed relationship instead of dating around or hooking up with people is a choice that we all make. Obviously, sometimes we choose the single life and sometimes it chooses us. For those of us who choose to be with one person, I’m here to tell you that that’s perfectly okay. Contrary to popular belief, being in a relationship in college does not stop you from having wild, fun nights. It just means you have someone by your side throughout all of those days and nights. Your boyfriend/girlfriend is supposed to be your best friend, the person who is there through thick and thin, a shoulder to cry on, a nice pair of lips to kiss. What makes the difference if you have this best friend in college or you have them after? I for one am glad I got to make all of my college memories with someone I love by my side, and now here we are in the real world after graduation trying to figure out what in the world to do now, but together.
Regardless of what anyone says about you being in a relationship during these years of your life, it’s up to you to make yourself happy. And if having someone by your side that really knows you, puts you first, respects you and cares for you is what makes you happy, then don’t let anyone change your mind. It’s easy to look around and wonder what things would be like, or what would be different about your college experience, if you weren’t dating someone.
Heck, I’ve wondered it myself.
But then I wonder how many people who are out there having fun and hooking up with that hot person from the bar wish that they had someone they could call their own. I mean, we spend most of our lives getting ready for our future, one school year at a time. We expect love will find us somewhere along the way, and when it does we either accept it or we say it’s not the right time or you just don’t know what you want. I’m not saying you have to settle down and marry someone. You can date 30 people before you find “the one”. But I am saying to be open to it. Don’t think you’re missing out on anything by being committed to someone, because you aren’t. You’re just on a different kind of adventure and you get to share it with someone who knows you better than anyone else. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
Nothing is wrong with whichever side you choose; as long as you’re happy then who has a right to say you’re wrong?
