In high school, we told ourselves we still had time to find the one; who marries his/her high school sweetheart, anyway? Finding our soulmates just wasn’t on the agenda, what with puberty, petty drama, and standardized testing all squabbling for our attention. But now, here we are: college. Suddenly, the future seems much more imminent. We’re taking internships, building resumes, learning skills that will prepare us for our careers. As we look at the bags under our eyes and ponder our burgeoning coffee addictions, we realize that we’re becoming adults. Well, crap. That means our time as free-floating bachelors and bachelorettes is over; so, why aren’t we in relationships yet? What are we doing wrong?
When this panic sets in, I advise you to take a deep breath. Being single during college doesn’t mean your life is over. In fact, if you look at it with the right attitude, it has definite upsides. For example:
- You get to relax. If you’re like me, you’ll want to be on top of your game for your significant other. Being single means you can be your genuine self, without fear of judgment; wear those sweatpants, speak your mind, and enjoy yourself!
- Fewer obligations. You’ll never get that “oh, crap” feeling when you look at the clock and realize you slept straight through your coffee date.
- Less drama. Relationships breed drama; it’s just a fact. By being single, you’re avoiding the emotional turbulence that comes with having a boyfriend or girlfriend. College is stressful enough; who needs more to worry about?
- More social opportunities. As a free agent, you’re beholden to no one and no thing. If you want to go to a party, you go to that party. If you get invited out to dinner with a group of friends, who’s going to stop you? Go out and live your life, you free-flying social butterfly.
- You get to be a little selfish. Spoil yourself! Try that new cleanse diet you’ve been meaning to do, go explore the city, sign up for a few more intramural sports. You’ve got the time; use it to make yourself even better!
Being single in college does not indicate future crazy cat lady (or man) status. Neither does it indicate that you are unlovable or inferior in any way. It simply indicates that you have not found someone with whom you have an emotional connection, and that’s okay. So, when you walk past that couple PDA-ing on the Beach or see that overly mushy-gushy pair canoodling in the caf, don’t despair (it’s okay to get a little bit annoyed, though). Be happy for the people in love, and cherish your own single status, because trust me, it won’t last forever.
