I find myself contemplating life after college graduation fairly frequently. Will I find a successful career? Where will I live? Will I earn enough money before I die to pay off the thousands of dollars in college loans I’ve racked up throughout the years?
All of these questions are equally important in my mind.
But none can compare to the big kahuna of my constant wondering: How do you date after college?
Dating in college is pretty simple. You meet someone you’re compatible with, in class or while you’re out, then you share every free moment you can spare with him or her.
All you really need to do to make it an official relationship is indicate it as such on social media like Facebook. A few public outings help cement the relationship as well, like going to the bars together one night or holding hands while walking down the sidewalk.
Boom.
Relationship status acknowledged.
But these typical dating practices aren’t common in the outside world. As I was discussing with a fellow single friend, after college, it is very unlikely that you will find your soul mate at the local pub.
This same friend asked me for dating advice after graduation, and I simply had none to give! I don’t know if the grocery store is the go-to place to find a good girl to take out on a date, although I imagine you’d have a better shot at success there than at the bar. I don’t know how to tell you to approach a stranger and ask them on a date without being incredibly creepy about it.
I don’t know how to find a date after college, let alone find one while I’m still here …
As I’ve previously established, I’m an awkward person. I think that this character trait will either screw my chances of finding a man, or it will oddly draw in some poor sucker to date me.
But beyond these campus grounds lies the real world, and I don’t know how to pretend to be a normal, functioning human being out there. So instead of searching for jobs and focusing on getting good grades, I’ve come up with a few ideas on how to survive and succeed in post-college dating practices.
If you should be so lucky to find a job right after graduation, check out the babes working there with you. I predict high odds of successful dating right there.
Go to community involvement activities like fairs or parades or fundraisers. You may bump into your future husband or wife!
Adopt a puppy and set yourself up in a public place. Everyone loves puppies, and you’re bound to win a few dates that way. Treat Fido well, and Fido will repay you.
And if nothing else, peek into the realm of online dating. It’s a bit weird and invasive and … well, it’s borderline creepy but don’t knock it until you try it!
All in all, I think with a little confidence and a lot of courage, we’ll all find someone out there that’s right for us somehow. And as daunting as dating after college may be, living your life as a recluse is far less appealing.
So get out there and date on, friends! And if you figure out the secret to successful dating, give me a call. We can chat over dinner or something.
Tanya Parker is a junior studying broadcast journalism and a columnist for The Post. Is her dating advice out of whack? Email her at tp259509@ohiou.edu.
