I’ve had friends and acquaintances tell me that being in a relationship, especially one that lasts more than a month, in college will ruin the “college experience” for me. They told me that if I went out to parties, I would be excluded a bit because every guy wouldn’t be interested in talking to a girl who is already taken. Honestly, I never cared about that.

So, go ahead and tell me that I am being “tied down,” even though I’m not. Just because someone is in a relationship during college doesn’t mean they are automatically going to get married, sheesh. Are you going to automatically marry every person that you dated in high school?

The college party scene never interested me anyway, so why should I follow the typical college standards when it comes to relationships and dating? Well, the answer is simple, I shouldn’t and I didn’t. I went to maybe two or three parties my freshman year before I came to the conclusion that I was definitely not a partier.

To me, there is absolutely nothing more repulsive than a bunch of sweaty bodies thrown together into a small dorm or apartment. I appreciate my own personal space, thank you very much. Even if I wanted to go to a party now, at least I’ll always have a date.

I know I’m not the only college student who feels this way.

Besides, people typically go to parties to leave with someone at the end of the night, if you know what I mean, and I am not about that life. Trust issues are to blame for that.

I met my boyfriend about halfway through the Fall semester of my freshman year and we started dating about a month later. Two and a half years later, were about to be seniors. Yes, we’ve become the mom and dad of our friend group, but it doesn’t matter to either of us because we are happy.

I’ve had more adventures and have made more memories with my boyfriend than I ever could with how ever many random people that I could have met at a party. He has given me unconditional support, even through finals week when I’ve been known to succumb to stress and have some minor panic attacks here and there.

Yes, I do have time for a boyfriend. Believe it or not, my whole college career is not spent in the library. I, like everybody else in the world, need time for myself and that time can be spent with my significant other. Most of my time is spent at clubs with my friends and in my dorm. And who says I can’t spend time in the library with my boyfriend while were both getting work done?

No, I don’t rely on my boyfriend for everything. In fact, I am a very independent woman who has lived away from home for almost four years now. I take care of myself, get myself to work, and earn my own money. I don’t need anyone to take care of me if I can’t even take care of myself.

Neither of us are the same person that we were at the beginning of our freshman year. We’ve both grown apart and we’ve grown together. We are both individuals and a couple. Regardless of a person’s beliefs, the lives of the people in a college relationship do not consistently revolve around the other.

Sure, everyone likes to have the opportunity to explore in college, but keep in mind that it can be done multiple ways. Just because I never got into the party scene and hooking up, doesn’t mean that I never explored my options. Respect a person’s life choices and they will respect yours.