Dating can be difficult at any age. In high school, things were confusing and scary because dating in a small bubble was complicated. Knowing everyone closely might have made things a challenge. As one gets older, dating becomes a more profound concept, and serious relationships might be the goal. College can be a popular time to grow relationships, however, dating in college can be a challenge for various reasons that people may not think about.
College classes can be all-consuming and schoolwork can take over people’s lives at times. With so many different schedules to manage, school can be a huge obstacle to work through, especially if one has a lot of classes taking up the day. This isn’t counting extracurricular activities such as clubs or sports, which many students take part in. Work and attempting to make money is another time filler. Student jobs are popular and helpful but are also another activity that takes time. Overall, college is busy and dating is sometimes an out-of-the-question concept.
If one gets into a relationship, a balance between people is challenging. Splitting time between a relationship and friends is a work in progress. If one goes to the same school as their partner, it is so convenient to see them all the time, but if it’s too much, then friends may feel neglected. This can be a very trial-and-error process when dividing time. However, going to the same school as a partner can be a huge gift.
After high school, people go to different places and they can choose many different paths. Long-distance relationships either work or they don’t. It is important to remember that this means two people are living completely different lives at a distance, which can mean growth in different directions. It is just another piece of college dating that can be tricky, especially when coming out of high school with a relationship. However, giving up on a relationship just because two people are parting ways is not always the way to go.
When looking for a partner in college, standards should be high. Dating means giving someone else large amounts of potentially limited time. Adding another person to this means you shouldn’t settle. Growing into an independent adult is an important piece of growing up, so putting a relationship above growth might deter it. However, support from a healthy relationship also has the potential to enhance personal growth, which is all the more reason to set standards.
If you are looking for a relationship or even just a date, and know you have the time, then you should put yourself out there. Being confident is a huge tool, even if that means faking confidence. This could attract new friends and many new opportunities as well. Talk to as many people as possible and make sure to not let other people’s opinions deter from building confidence. Dating may be a challenge, but it is not impossible.
Overall, dating in college is more difficult than people tend to think. College is a busy time for development and packed schedules, so balancing a relationship with this can be a challenge. Finding the right person is an even bigger step. Making a relationship work can be worth it, but putting oneself first is most important.
Kyra Dapore is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Kyra know by emailing her at kd364521@ohio.edu.
