At the very beginning of college, I was so excited to be surrounded by boys again. After attending an all-girls high school, I had survived four years with only interacting with boys on the weekends. It was a comfortable lifestyle and was exactly what I needed at that point in my life. It gave me distance from distraction and allowed me to grow mentally, emotionally, and socially. So although I am no longer in high school, I am still growing. It is for that very reason, that I'm not looking for a boyfriend right now.

I'm a freshman in college. I don't know even know what dining hall I want to eat dinner at tonight, let alone who I want to be with for the rest of my life. The actual purpose of dating is to test compatibility, with the eventual intention to marry. That being said, I have only a mere 18 years under my belt. I'm still trying to figure out who I am, so why waste someone's time? Too often, girls get so caught up in the idea of having someone to cuddle with or constantly text, that they fail to realize that they probably already have these sort of people in their lives. I mean personally, I'd rather cuddle with my dog or text my best friend who goes to school 800 miles away.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't date someone during your freshman year of college. All I am saying is it's okay to not date someone your freshman year of college. You're adjusting to your school, meeting so many new people, making new friends, making new memories; you have to "stop and smell the roses" every once in a while. Take a moment to step back and look at everything you're doing. The truth is, I have so many things going on that I honestly just wouldn't have the time to be in a relationship. Having a boyfriend is a responsibility. Relationships take effort, dedication, and time--and you need all three in order for them to be successful, not just one or two. So if you find someone, then by all means. But, if you don't, it may be for the best.

I've never really been a touchy-feely type of person. Quite frankly, seeing couples hold hands around campus, well actually, any PDA in general, freaks me out. I understand intimacy, but that's just it: keep it private. People say that they felt like they needed to wait until they were mature to get into a relationship. I totally see that and while I definitely think I'm mature enough for a relationship, I just personally don't feel inclined to pursue one right now. I'm at a point in my life where I'm looking to have fun, to be independent, and to continue learning and growing. Not that having a relationship prevents all of the aforementioned, but it does hinder things to an extent. This is nothing against the boys I know, it's not that I find none of them suitable to date, I just think that the relationship in my life right now that I most want to pursue is the one that I have with myself.

College is hard. It's a lot of decisions and restraints that are then matched with this overwhelming but very appealing sense of freedom and fun. There's so much to learn and to experience. That being said, I do not mean to denounce dating or to shame those who are in relationships at this point in their lives. I just feel as though these decisions and restraints, this freedom and fun, are things that I am better off dealing with and experiencing by myself, for myself.

I'm not saying that I am not going to date anyone my freshman year. All I am saying is that I am not actively seeking a boyfriend. It's okay if you are, but you also don't need to be if you aren't. I wouldn't say I'm a huge believer in fate, but I do believe that things will come to you when you stop looking for them. Seeking something out is not natural. I think a relationship is something that cannot be rushed or sought out. I am who I am, not because of any relationship I've had, but because I am taking time to learn about myself, for my own intentions. I think the main reason that I am not looking for a boyfriend is because people say that he would be completing my other half--but I'm not a half, I'm whole.