"Why are you dating so early? You have your whole life to live!"
"You're in college. Enjoy the freedom while you can and stay single."
"Don't waste your youth on relationships. You have the remainder of your life to do that."
These words, and many more just like it, are phrases that I have heard come out of peoples' mouths all too often. They tell me and others that because we are in college, we shouldn't be dating yet. We shouldn't be tied down while we have the chance to be free and do whatever we want. We should be out in the world exploring and having the time of our lives. But, we have to be single to do this? This has always been something that has made me laugh out loud and truly question society's morals and expectations.
The way I look at it, if the time's right, and God brings someone into your life, then go for it, no matter what age you are. You have the right to love whoever you want, whenever you want, young or old. I have experienced this first hand, and it was one of the best things that has ever happened to me and my youth.
It was about a month into my first year of college, and I was having the time of my life. I was going out, meeting new people and enjoying my new sense of freedom. I remember vividly that I had no thought on my mind of dating or boys. I was focused on making my first year of college the best year, while focusing on myself and my happiness. The night that we finally both saw each other was a random and quiet weekend night at my college. We had known each other before that, but never did I ever think that this one night, early in my college career, would lead to something so powerful and rewarding.
God truly did lead Jordan into my life that night because I would have never imagined myself in a relationship so early in college. I am so glad that he did, though. Truer now than ever, I would rather waste my youth on this relationship than be single, any day. The funny thing is, it is not so much wasting my youth, but sharing it with him. Jordan has seen me at my very worst (tears and all) and my very best. We have watched each other grow individually and as a couple. I have learned so much about myself and love in such a short amount of time, and I can't imagine how different I would be today if God didn't walk him into my life. I am so glad that we are able to share the beginnings of our lives, our youth, together.
Being young and in love is one of the best thing to happen to me and my youth. It has taught me strength, compassion, love and friendship at such a young age. We have been blessed with the chance to combine our youth and share it with one another, which is something that we will one day be able to look back on and say, "Hey, we did that together."
If you get the chance to be young and in love, take it and see what happens. It's honestly OK. Don't listen to what others have to say and follow your intuition. I promise you that in the end, you'll both be grateful you did. They may say that being young and in love is stupid, but I think it has been the best "waste" of my youth I could have ever imagined. Most importantly, I can't wait to see what the remainder of our youth has to offer us.
Here's to happiness, youth and lots of love.
