Although I am in a loving and committed relationship now, I believe that being single your freshman year of college is one of the best things that you can do. Meeting my boyfriend at the very end of my freshman year in a way was perfect timing and I know that no one can control when you meet the right person but I stand by the fact that everyone needs a single experience.
1. Fresh start
College is pretty much a blank slate; your high school life is gone, and you’re in an entirely new place surrounded by unfamiliar faces. This is the perfect time to meet all kinds of new people and make new friends. Being single during this time is so important because you may feel too comfortable having your significant other to always rely on, and not really go out of your way to develop good friendships with other people. I wouldn’t ever change being single my freshman year because I met some of the best friends I will ever have and was able to spend the entire year building those friendships.
2. Decision-making
College is the first time we are ever completely on our own and is one of the first times in our lives when you have the complete freedom to make any decision you want. It is important to learn what makes you happy and what decisions you want to make without someone influencing what you decide.
3. Independence
Going off to college was the biggest transition in my life that I have experienced thus far. It took a lot of adjustments and changes, but through it all I became more independent than I have ever been and grew up on a whole other level. I believe it is important to strengthen your independence before you become dependent on someone else.
4. Know yourself
College is the time for all of us emerging adults to discover who we are, and really get to know ourselves. If you’re a person who is always finding yourself in a relationship, take advantage of your freshman year of college to focus on discovering who you are instead of who you are with someone else.
I’m not saying that if you’re a freshman in college and are in a relationship right now to end it. If you are happy and have met the right person then that is all that matters; but if you enter into your freshman year single, don’t rush into looking for a relationship.