It’s no secret that college is a time for experimentation, which definitely includes everything in the realm of hooking up. I’ve always enjoyed dating and meeting new people, but at the start of this new school year I challenged myself to do something I had never done before: go on a Tinder date. Apps like Tinder and Bumble have been crazy popular for a while now, and I had always been curious as to just what made them so appealing. Now I’ll admit, I used to have a negative viewpoint regarding meeting a significant other on the Internet, but I decided it wasn’t fair to judge until I tried it myself.
I swiped left and right a whole lot before finally matching up with someone that seemed like they weren’t just looking for sex (BTW, there’s nothing wrong with using Tinder to find a one-time sexual partner, it’s just not what I was looking for on this particular occasion). He was a guy at a nearby college, and we met up for casual drinks and a walk around the neighborhood to get to know each other.
Since this was my first time meeting someone from the Internet, I let a few close friends know where I was going and gave them updates, just in case. Me and said guy ended up having an amazing time, and forcing myself to get to know a total stranger really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I used to have a preconceived notion of what it would be like to find the perfect guy, but what’s so liberating about online dating is letting go of expectations. You’re not only saying yes to online dating, you’re saying yes to a huge pool of people that want to get to know you as well.
After freshman year is over, a lot of students feel less motivated to go out of their way and meet new people. I’m here to tell you that it is definitely worth it. Any chance to get to know someone is an opportunity you should take, and I find that more often than not, you’ll be happily surprised by what you learned.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I will say that I was so happy with my Tinder date that I went on a second one shortly after with a different guy. Well, turns out that one didn’t go nearly as well, but guess what? It doesn’t matter if you meet someone online, in person, or through mutual friends: there is always the chance that it could go wrong, or that something amazing will come of it. Put yourself out there and make memories and opportunities happen for yourself, I promise you won’t regret it.
[Feature Image by Pexels]