Tinder is an app that our generation both loves and hates. Most of us have been there, curious as to what the world of Tinder has to offer.
My Tinder cave-in occurred this past summer when I decided to download the app that everyone talks about. My plan was to play it off as a joke, assuring everyone that the only reason I even downloaded the app was to swipe right with people from high school and make them feel uncomfortable. Of course, I did do this. I found numerous old high school pals and matched with many. In reality, though, I must admit, I was mostly just curious as to what Tinder was all about and to see all the different types of people every Tinder article talks about. I did this as well and had plenty of LOL-worthy messages sent my way. However, after a week on Tinder, I matched with someone from high school who I hadn’t spoken to in years. At the time, it was a cool coincidence but now I have Tinder to thank for leading me to my best friend and significant other.
After a week of using Tinder, I could not take it anymore. Every article I had read describing the weird, awkward encounters people experience on Tinder held true for my own experience. After exploring Tinder for myself, I felt satisfied in the articles representations about the weird world of Tinder. I deleted the app and went on my way, trying to forget the awkwardness of the past week.
But then my mother came home one day and questioned me about this boy I had matched with on Tinder (confession: when I matched with said boy, who I went to high school with, I must admit I was a little excited. Excited enough to tell my mom… I knew it was just Tinder and that I would probably never talk to him but, hey, it was still cool). With her questioning in mind, I begin to feel a little optimistic. Maybe I deleted Tinder too soon. Maybe I can reach out to him without it being weird?
I did the unthinkable and re-downloaded the app. To my surprise, I had a message waiting for me from said boy. Nothing weird or uncomfortable like all the messages I had received before, just a goofy comment from a guy I went to high school with, a goofy comment that made my head rush like a schoolgirl with a crush.
Long story short, I gave him my number, we updated each other on our lives post-high school, we went on a date, we spent the whole summer together and now I tell him I love him every night before I go to bed. So maybe Tinder isn’t so bad after all? Maybe I didn’t exactly meet my boyfriend on Tinder but it did provide me a platform to re-connect with him. With that, I say maybe don’t give up on Tinder just yet, you never know who it may lead you to unexpectedly.
