I hate being lectured. Ok, let’s be honest, nobody likes feeling as though they’re getting lectured, but I have a tendency to show my frustration when I feel I’m put in a teacher-student dynamic that’s a little too obvious. There’s nothing more infuriating to me than when somebody sits there and talks as if I have absolutely no idea what they are talking about, and need to be instructed on how to eat, travel, do my job, or study.

As a third-year college student, I think it’s safe to say that I’ve made it this far, and I’m doing alright for myself. Now, that’s not to say that I don’t enjoy learning new information about topics I am uninformed of, but when it comes to telling me how going to office hours can justify an upgrade at the end of the semester, I’m all clued-in.

Many of my friends and family know this about me, which explains their surprise when I told them how appreciative I am of all the knowledge and information my boyfriend provides me with regards to – what I like to call – life advice. Sometimes, being lectured by someone equally as experienced as you really strikes a chord, but when it’s someone who’s older and has lived longer, it can be extremely beneficial, and here are the seven reasons why.

1. You don’t feel as lost

One of the worst things about being in the college stage of our lives is that we can find ourselves feeling lost much of the time. We don’t know what we are going to major in, what kind of job we want to have, or whether missing that extra-curricular event will impact us down the road. But with a significant other who has an extra few years on you, all that stress goes away because they remind you they were in that exact same place just a few years ago.

2. You actually believe they “get it”

I am a big proponent of going to parents for advice, but sometimes it can be frustrating because the world of jobs and internships has changed drastically from when they were in college, and the way of going about obtaining these positions is not the same.

However, with your significant other, they are the same generation as you which means you trust what they tell you. You believe them that your GPA is not more important than work experience, and you trust that having more than one copy of your resume on hand is never a bad idea.

3. You trust them and their knowledge

Hopefully, you confide and have a great deal of trust in many of your close friends and family, but usually trust runs the deepest with your significant other. Since you’ve already established this trust between you, you believe them when they tell you that everything is going to be ok. You trust that they wouldn’t steer you down the wrong path and that they know what they’re talking about when they give suggestions on how to prepare for your interview.

4. You have someone to look up to

As the youngest sibling in my family, I have always looked up to my older sister, but sometimes it’s difficult to mirror everything after her as we have had very different job experiences and interests over the years.

With your significant other, you are looking up to someone who you love, respect, and care about but who isn’t related to you which provides for a separation of competition between you two. You are able to admire what they have done and accomplished and possess endless pride for their achievements in the same way you do for your sibling, but without that competitive edge beneath it.

They serve as someone that you can model your own behavior and actions off of, as well as someone who encourages you to never stop pushing yourself or improving.

5. They teach you to learn from their mistakes

Nobody is perfect, and sometimes perfection is scariest in the business world. We worry about messing up an interview question or miscommunicating our interest in the position we are applying for, and that’s where your significant others experience comes in.

Since they have been through this process before, they are there to teach you that it’s ok to make a mistake, as well as instruct you on several mistakes that you want to be sure you don’t make throughout the process. Not only do they serve as your instructor, but also as your support system.

6. They know how the world works

Whether it be two years separating you or ten, the exposure that your significant other has to the working world allows them to inform you of the ways in which it operates. You may think that your college professors are strict about having that no-absence policy, but just wait until you obtain that real-world job and your attendance is expected every single day.

Don’t worry, though, your significant other will be there to pat you on the back, and give you the same “welcome to the real world” pity eyes you had been feeling yourself.

7. You never stop learning

From knowledge about current stock markets to information regarding the Mirotic-Portis sports scandal, your significant other has probably conditioned him/herself to stay in the loop of what is going on. While that’s beneficial for him/her, it’s also beneficial for you because you are the one they are more than likely going to go to when sharing this knowledge.

The result is not just a fun story to share with friends and family, but also a desire to inquire about what’s happening in the world from someone you feel comfortable asking questions to.

I may hate being lectured, but I certainly do not hate learning from those around me. Although dating someone with more life experience can be intimidating at times, it allows for you to better yourself and feel comfortable asking questions to someone who you know will never judge you.