Dating in this generation can be a struggle. It seems like everyone is on different pages on what they want. I have done my fair share of talking stages and “dating” in college and this is what I found out.
- I Try My Hardest to Keep My Hopes Realistic
There are so many people around us ,and most of us want to take the time to explore before settling down with one person. Something that personally has helped my friends and I is to not go in with too high hopes when talking to someone and keep your expectations grounded. I eventually started to learn that a lot of people do not want to commit and if you go in thinking that they do, you end up getting hurt. I have found that establishing what you want and communicating those feelings with the other person before starting anything is the best way to go. This way, you both can make sure you are on the same page.
- Try Not to Prioritize Dating Over Other Responsibilities
I myself and some friends of mine have put their significant others first before friends and school. It’s totally normal to want to be around your partner constantly, we’ve all been there! I have been through a situation where I lost focus on school and friends because I was too invested in a boyfriend and I look back and regret it. I am glad I at least learned from the situation and know to not repeat the same mistakes. So, try to put some of those “honeymoon” feelings aside and remember your other responsibilities.
- Take My Time
College is four years after all, so do not feel the need to rush into things! Good things take time, especially finding the right person you want to be with, so take your time getting to know the person. Dating in high school is a lot different than college due to many factors, so take time to understand those differences and that will help you in the long run. I know when I was a freshman, I did not know what the dating scene was like in college and since then, I have grown a lot because I learned better ways to approach it.
- Be Open Minded
With there being tons of different people in college, it is important to remain open minded. We all may have a “type” that we go for, but I grew to learn that by expanding outside of that, you can discover other people that you like. College is the time to learn, grow, and make mistakes so even if it does not work out, you will at least know for next time. Most of the time you find the “perfect” partner unexpectedly. I personally always find myself going for a certain type but recently, I discovered that going beyond that will allow myself to explore other people that I never expected to like before.
It’s a trial and error process, but try to keep some of these things in mind. After getting my foot in the dating pool, I can say that dating can be a little nerve-wracking, but remember that it’s also fun and a important part of our self-discovery in college.