Every time I log on social media, someone I graduated from high school with just a few years ago is posting about their engagement as I am getting ready to go out with friends. They are happily engaged, while I am happily single. One of my many Facebook friends is usually posting about how "you should be single while you're young," while the numerous newly engaged energizer bunnies are commenting about how it's great to find love so young. This seems to be like every 20-something-year-old's favorite debate these days, so, it got me thinking, which is the right path? I mean, sure it's great to have the support system of a significant other, but aren't you missing out on some very important self-discoveries? This debate has pros and cons to both sides, and here's why:
Pros to being in a relationship:
Being in love is a wonderful thing, it is a breath of fresh air every day, it is a support system and it is knowing you are not wasting your time trying to meet new people. You know at the end of every day you have someone to come home to or to vent to, to cuddle with, or to cry with. Relationships teach you to compromise, which is a very important skill in every 20-something-year-old's life. It teaches you time management when you're having to make time between college, work and significant other, and the motivation you give each other tends to improve the quality of one's grades or work. Having a significant other while young helps you stay on track when the world is throwing so many temptations at you, and the best part is you are creating a life together. A serious relationship gives you something to look forward to once the school is done and the real life starts, it's always fun and exciting to plan your future together. Overall, you build a best friend and a life partner that you will share so many moments with after getting together so young.
Cons to being in a relationship:
As Maroon 5 always says, it's not always rainbows and butterflies. Being in a relationship can also weigh you down. There are some things you may really want to do, but you know if it's not best for your relationship, you just wont do it (out-of-state Grad school, going out with friends, etc.). Some have said that it takes away from the full experience you could get if you were single. Yes it is wonderful to make a lifetime best friend, but when you start building your life with someone so young, you lose the chance to discover you independently which is what your 20s are known for. You have to share your food with someone (silly, but think about it), and everything you do is double the cost and we're already broke as it as when we are young. In all, the main thing is focusing too much time on the couple as a whole rather than making self discoveries based solely on you.
Pros of being single:
Any single person can argue that the single life has more pros than cons. To start, singles do exactly what they want to do. Wanna study abroad? OK. Wanna go out with friends three times a week? Why not? The biggest pro is finding yourself. So much alone time gives you self-discoveries that you could never make when you have a life partner already. And also, college is so busy already, who actually has time to manage a relationship? You are open to meeting so many new people when you're single, which leads to more networking (aka the major key to success). You don't have to worry about a relocation for work or school, because you are only in charge of yourself. You get to do exactly what you want to do. Overall, you should be the only one that matters into you at this age because this is truly your only time to be selfish.
Cons of being single:
The cons to this are that everyone around you is getting a significant other, a ring, or a baby, and you feel peer pressured by society that you may not be doing life "right," which leads to the feeling of loneliness. Also, this single lifestyle (and by this I mean if you are single and wild), you can find yourself in a bad situation while bar hopping, or even after bar hours. Being single seems to come with many more risks, and some wasted time if you are trying to date around.
But let's be honest, we are jealous of each other's lives. Singles are always jealous of the cute couple pictures and the undying support for each other, and people in relationships are jealous of the night's out and random make-out sessions. You always want what you don't have, but that's OK. The great news is that there seems to be a happy medium and a common ground, most can agree that this is all dependent on the person and the personality. If you are not the type to settle in just yet, then you don't have to and if you are then that is great too. Some might agree that when you're in your first years of college, it is better to be single and make these self discoveries and fun memories, and by the time that's done and your senior year comes around you'll be wanting to settle down. It is all time dependent and self dependent, but their is no right or wrong answer. As long as you're happy in life, that's all that matters.
