College is often portrayed in the media as a fresh start, somewhere to reinvent yourself. Make new friends, create a new personality, and cut ties with that one boy. While all of that can be reality for some, it most certainly isn’t for me.
Upon entering college, the amount of people who were obsessed with my relationship is absurd. “When are you breaking up?” “Do you think you guys will actually last?” “Why are you still with your high school boyfriend?” Bombarded with this wall of invasive questions, I guess I didn’t realize how unconventional having a high school sweetheart actually was.
If you’re heading into university alongside a partner, I only have one piece of advice for you: let them be a part of your college experience rather than have them undermine it. This is not me saying to become absolutely inseparable, spending every waking moment with one another (or do, don’t let me stop you). You can nurture your relationship while still creating an experience of your own.
Join clubs (this is when I shamelessly plug HC for your club of choice), make your own friends, study by yourself. Don’t feel guilty for wanting space, but don’t feel shame for wanting to be with him. Let me tell you, the healthiest relationships aren’t about doing everything together but about supporting one another and allocating time for each other.
I guess to keep a long point short, the college experience doesn’t have to be about total reinvention. Sometimes, it’s about bringing the parts of your life that make you happy into a new chapter and letting them grow with you.
So, to all the girls heading off to college with their high school sweethearts: don’t let anyone make you feel like you’re doing college wrong. There is no right way to experience these years, and if your relationship is something that makes you happy, there’s no reason you have to leave it behind just because you’re entering a new chapter.