I have heard so many people talk about not wanting to be “tied down” while in college. There is nothing wrong with being single, ever. But there is also nothing wrong with being in a relationship - even in college.

My first year and a half in college I was single for a good 70% of the time. It was fine. I dated a little bit which was…pretty awful, actually… but that’s a different subject.

I can agree that there are benefits to being single in college. You are surrounded by a lot of new and exciting (and sometimes attractive) faces so it’s one of the easiest times in your life to start new relationships. The idea sounds appealing. However, being single, at least in my experience, is not that great. It was awkward dates, normally with people I barely knew, having to try and use Tinder and realizing how crazy it and the people on it are, and the list goes on.

At some point, I think people in college started having this idea that they can’t commit to someone while they are here. I promise there is no law saying you can’t be monogamous. If you really like someone, make it official! Don’t just be a “thing” because you don’t want to be “tied down.”

The point of dating is obviously to find someone you like so when you find that person don’t just let them walk away because you have two new matches on Tinder. I can understand that one of the hard parts about committing, especially in college, is that there at least seems to be so many options. When you keep on looking and looking though it can become endless and you run into problems.

I recently read about this thing called the 80/20 theory. Basically saying that you get 80% of what you are looking for in a person. Sometimes though you focus on the 20% they don’t have. You might see that thing they don’t have in another person. This does not mean you go to the person who has that extra thing that’s in the 20% because they probably only have that 20% which (I know guys, math is hard) is less than your original 80%.

Honestly, being in a relationship the past couple months has been great! The pressure of going on dates is off and I just feel a lot less stressed. Instead of trying to impress all of these potential matches, I have found someone I can just be myself around.

So please don’t break up with someone who is great and that you really care about just so you can go on some really awkward dates. Also, if you are single, don’t be afraid to commit to someone because in the end most of us will want to be “tied down.” Which, by the way, is an awful term. Being in a relationship shouldn’t tie you down, it should give you someone who… well this is cliché, but there is a reason for that…lifts you up.