Congratulations, you did it. After a few weeks of (what felt like) fierce competition, you have emerged victorious and are walking away with the title of “Girlfriend.” As disappointing as it is for me, I want you to know that I am happy for you two. But there are a few other things I need to say.

Earning the girlfriend position took some work – don’t slack off now. Take care of him. He’s a great guy who deserves the world. Don’t take him for granted – remember how lucky you are, knowing there are other girls who would’ve been happy to have him. Make every day you see each other an interesting one. Don’t let too much schoolwork be an excuse for sitting around someone’s room all day – whether you see a movie, go bowling, or just take a stroll through campus, do something together where you’re actively engaging one another. It’s not always enough to “feel their presence,” so for the love of all that is holy, stay off the phone or computer when you’re supposed to be hanging out. You are fortunate to have this time with him – don’t waste it. Not even you will know exactly how much time you’ll have with him. But you’ll enjoy it.

On the flip side, make sure he treats you well in return. He may be a great guy, but he’s still a guy – sometimes they can be fickle, hurtful even when they don’t realize they’re doing it. Don’t put up with it. Don’t let your attraction to him blind you – let him know if he’s being a douche. Even if you already find his face basic qualities attractive, take whatever time to learn the rest of his character. If it turns out that he’s not who you thought he was, that’s okay. Just don’t hold on to him for the sake of having him, because that wouldn’t be healthy for either of you. But if he is in fact everything you ever wanted and continues to be awesome, make sure to appreciate him. Nice guys like that don’t come around often, so do what you can to make him feel loved every day.

The situation could have gone in any direction, but I know you tried your hardest to get him. You wanted him just as badly as I did, but at the end of the day, there’s no hard feelings – that’s just part of the game. Best of luck to you.