by Katie Smith
College is an educational institution, but apparently, it’s also the place where you’re supposed to find yourself and your life-long love. My family will constantly ask if I’ve met someone, badgering me as if I’m here for any other reason than my education. I have to laugh and shrug my shoulders, making some kind of joke about why I’m still single.
Escaping to films doesn’t help either because college coming of age movies and TV shows also put a lot of pressure on this stage of life. They hype college up as something crazy and fun, always tangled up with significant others. It makes for great entertainment, but it’s largely unrealistic, especially for my time here at Troy University.
The “ring before spring” is a common phenomenon within traditionally Christian colleges where women feel the need to be engaged by springtime, and it is exactly what my family wants for me. I hate this notion. It’s insane to put so much pressure on four years of your life, and I’m tired of hearing about it.
The college atmosphere is busy enough as it is. Personally, I don’t have the energy and time for romance between working, balancing classes and trying to keep up with my friends. Romantic relationships are a commitment, and if you’re like me, then now isn’t the right time for it. I would hate to meet someone I care about and be too busy to enjoy a intimate relationship with them.
College is the time where you find yourself. I agree. It’s when you’re away from home, your parents, and everyone that you grew up with. It’s a clean slate, to speak metaphorically.
Take these four years to reinvent yourself and grow past all those middle school insecurities. Embrace this stage of life where you’re half-adult and half-teenager because after college is when things start to settle down. Don’t worry about finding someone to spend the rest of your life with. That will come in time.
College is not a love pool where everyone you have a crush on is your soulmate. Especially in this day and age where hook-up culture is so prevalent. I’m not hating anyone who has achieved this. I just don’t understand the pressure behind it all. If love is supposed to be spontaneous, then don’t rush into it, and definitely don’t feel like you need to force it.
Embrace this stage of life where you’re half-adult and half-teenager because after college is when things start to settle down. Don’t worry about finding someone to spend the rest of your life with. That will come in time.
College is not a love pool where everyone you have a crush on is your soulmate. Especially, this day and age where hook-up culture is so prevalent. I’m not hating anyone who has achieved this. I just don’t understand the pressure behind it all. If love is supposed to be spontaneous, then don’t rush into it, and definitely don’t feel like you need to force it.
