Pillow Talk: College Relationships

Oh, college. College can be some of the best times, and some of the worst. Heading into my freshmen year I had this idea that college was going to be exactly how it was portrayed in the movies. It honestly made me pretty nervous. At that point, my experience with relationships consisted of two very short dating periods.

Entering college can be so intimidating. I was under the impression that there would be this dominant hook up and party culture that I wouldn’t quite fit in with…but I was pleasantly surprised.

College isn’t as intimidating as my mind made it out to be. If you want to go out, go out. If you want to stay in, stay in. If you want to be in a relationship, fine. If you want to enjoy the single life, enjoy it.

Does hookup culture exist in college? Absolutely. Do you have to take part in it? If it’s not your jam, absolutely not.

I’ve learned a lot after my 2 ½ years in college. I was in a relationship that ended up lasting almost a year and a half. I learned a lot from that relationship. For the first time, I understood what it meant to connect with someone at an indescribable level. One look, and I knew we were thinking the exact same thing. We spent the majority of our time together, and I was happy.

Things didn’t end up working out (although we’re still pretty good friends), and that’s okay. When I look back at that experience, I realize how grateful I am to have loved and lost…because at the end of it all, I came out with more knowledge and understanding of who I am and what I believe in.

I believe that true love exists.

I believe that he is worth loving.

And I believe that I am worth loving.

I spent the first couple of years of my college experience thinking that I either needed to take part in hook up culture, or be actively searching for my future partner. I didn’t even stop to think that there could be a happy medium.  

College is this amazing time when you’re free to do what you want. And it’s absolutely okay to be unsure of what you want. I think right now I’m living in this place where I’m not really sure what I’m looking for, and I’m just letting things happen. I don’t have to have everything figured out – I’m 20 for cryin out loud. And some things are just better left unplanned.