Like many people before they go into college, I assumed I would join the higher education forces as a single woman. Being single is great, easy and awesome, especially during a huge life change such as going to college. In a society that tells you to explore your options, party it up and that long distance relationships or your high school sweetheart won’t last, well, what could I do but think that it only made sense to avoid getting into a relationship before heading off to school? Easy, right?
Well, I fell in love at the beginning of my senior year and that love has stayed with me ever since, in the form of my best friend and boyfriend Matthew. We are in the unique (and lucky) situation of both commuting to nearby colleges, so we were able to avoid the dreaded “long-distance relationship”.
Overtime, I’ve learned that being in a relationship during college is awesome, something that you don’t hear about too often due to the pressure on being single. I love my people out there who are single and living their lives, but in honor of “the month of love”, here are some of my favorite things about having a significant other during college:
1. There’s no stressing about having crushes or weird “things” with people. Instead, you know you’ve got that “good morning” text and the even better “Do you want anything from Starbucks?” text.
2. Whenever you go out, you’ve got each other’s back and are a team like no other. You take care of each other until you need to go home, NOW.
3. Study dates! Homework parties! It is always more fun to cram for Spanish when your person is cramming for Philosophy next to you.
4. Your friends and your S.O.’s friends become one big, happy family! (Not always, but luckily it’s true for us.)
5. They keep you calm when you feel like the world is ending because of a bad grade, friend misunderstandings or family drama, and vice versa.
6. The rare, but appreciated, days where your schedules line up perfectly and you both don’t have a million things to do, so you can go on a date or cuddle to your heart’s content.
7. If you get sick, you know who’s bringing you chicken noodle soup and making sure you have enough tissues.
8. You get to have your favorite person stand by you and experience some of the craziest, most memorable years of your life, as cheesy as it sounds. It’s a good way to go.