I am nineteen years old and a sophomore in college. I've been with my boyfriend since my sophomore year in high school at the age of sixteen and I couldn't have asked for this to turn out any differently. People always ask me if I'm happy in my relationship, or if I think I've expanded my horizon's on dating, and the answers are yes I am very happy, and yes I've expanded my horizons enough to know that nobody could compare to the guy I found. I am not going to lie, a relationship in college is not the easiest thing to uphold, with exams, term papers, friendships, and finding time for yourself, but it is worth it one hundred percent.

College poses many obstacles to any relationship because as young adults we are at the point in our lives where temptation is everywhere, and we are still trying to figure out what is best for us and who we are as individuals. At the same time, relationships can teach us many valuable lessons that we wouldn't experience otherwise. First, my relationship has taught me to keep others feelings in mind when making decisions because I am not the only one who is effected by them. Second, it has taught me how to be a better communicator because I tend to bottle up my feelings and emotions until it is too late, and in a positive way, I've been forced to come out of my shell. There are many other valuable lessons I've learned from dating my boyfriend in regards to respect, thoughtfulness, and compassion. These are great for me as a person because I have always been the type of girl to be very straightforward and cold in some sense, and I have become warmer as a result of my long term relationship.

I love my boyfriend very much, and some people may think that dating in college crushes the "fun experience" that hooking up and matching on Tinder is, but I'm happy right where I am. I don't plan on changing that. I have found that person who makes me feel whole and complete, the only one who can fill the empty void in my heart. I am done searching.