"...things happen when you least expect them. Things that can change your life." –Lesley Kagen, Whistling in the Dark
College campuses are known for their 'hookup culture,' characterized by "casual sexual encounters" and little commitment. One of the biggest contributors to this campus culture is social media and apps, such as Tinder. Tinder connects strangers who 'swipe' right for each other, indicating they're interested in chatting. With nearly 40 percent of Tinder users being college aged, it's no surprise that the app is largely used to initiate hook ups instead of commitment or relationships.
When I downloaded Tinder, I, like most other people using it, wasn't looking for it to lead to anything serious. Just beginning my freshman year, I saw it as a way to see what guys were around my campus. I'd just occasionally message back and forth with them, mostly about likes, dislikes, classes, etc. Nothing that exciting. Honestly, it was just something to do when I was bored.
I never believed that anything real would come of the small talk and short-lived conversations. That is until I met my (now) boyfriend, Gary, on Tinder. Yes, you read that right. I met my boyfriend on Tinder.
Our conversation started out like any other, the small talk I mentioned before. We talked about our majors, what we were interested in, all the typical stuff you discuss when first meeting someone. After a couple days of messaging, we made plans to meet in person. He had invited me to his room to watch a movie and just hang out.
I didn't really know what to expect. Everyone always warns girls and women about meeting up with strangers from online. My roommate reminded me before I left to be careful and to text her if anything went wrong. She didn't want me to fall victim to the typical Tinder guys, and I didn't want to either. The whole time I was walking from my dorm building to his, I was questioning if it would be a waste of my time and if I should just turn around and go home. I finally decided I'd give him a chance.
When he came out to meet me, he looked a little different than he did in his pictures on his profile. Not in a bad way, though, he actually looked better in person. We went to his room, I met his roommate, and we talked for a while about random stuff then watched a movie. There was no hookup, there wasn't even talk of a hookup.
I felt like I never wanted the night to end. While I started out feeling unsure about him, mostly because of the stereotypical Tinder guys, by the end of the night I felt very comfortable around him. That's when I knew things between us were going to be different than the typical Tinder encounter.
Since then, we've only grown closer. He's the only person I feel like I can be my complete self around. I feel like I don't need to hide anything. He's honestly my best friend, and it's all because we both swiped right.
It's always funny how people react when they ask how we met and I say, "We met on Tinder." They almost always respond with, "Are you kidding?" or "Seriously?" Honestly, I'm just as surprised as everyone else. I never thought in a million years that I'd meet someone I love as much as I love Gary on Tinder.
