To Date or Not to Date: A Look at College Relationships

Saturday, 29 August 2009 14:58 Written by  Brittany Rodgers

In high school, dating was all about making out with your girl or boyfriend behind your parents back, eating lunch together, walking the hallways together and hanging out with each other after school. When you enter college and you are on your own for the first time, dating becomes a different story. You’re free to do whatever you like!

Growing up, you constantly hear the phrase, “College will be some of the best years of your life.” You can’t help but to ask, why is college considered to be the best years of a person’s life? Is it because of the partying, the meeting new people from all over the country--or is it the possibility of meeting the person of your dreams?

College may be the easiest way people can find themselves meeting new people without any problems. It’s almost a given that with all the people you meet, you will come across someone you are attracted to, and you may find yourself pursuing a relationship and lunging into the world of college dating.
couple
College dating can have its advantages and disadvantages. Some advantages are being able to see the person almost every day, going to parties together, studying together and having more time to learn about each other. The disadvantages can be conflicting schedules, extracurricular activities at school and (of course) the arguing.

Rosalinda Pena, 21, attends Milwaukee Area Technical College and believes her girlfriend of a year is the person of her dreams.

“I can honestly say she is my dream girl because no one compares to her, and she is one of a kind to me. She has everything I want and is everything I need,” said Pena.

Pena said since she has been in college, her relationship has been good so far, and the two really haven’t had any problems beyond those a normal couple would have.

Cornelius McClendon, 21, who is very active at his college, Marquette University, also believes that his girlfriend is the girl of his dreams. McClendon is the president of the Epsilon Tau chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the chair of Brother Affairs for the Districts of Wisconsin of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and the vice president of Marquette ’s Black Student Council.

“My relationship was up and down for the first year while making that transition from high school to college and meeting new people, while being fresh in a relationship. But after the rocky first year, the two years have been a lot better because we have grown with each other and became accustomed to one another. We’re like Bonnie and Clyde 2009,” said McClendon.

Jazmine Henley-Brown, 20, has not had a boyfriend since she has become a college student.

Brown said she doesn’t think now is the time to be involved in relationships; she said that it’s the prime time, and it should be used to hustle. She eventually wants to have a spouse in her life but is not rushing to have one.

“College is a big place with tons of people. I won’t run from love (whatever that is), so if it happens, it happens,” said Brown.

Most people in college don’t consider getting in a serious relationship for many reasons. Some just want to party and enjoy college without having that companion on the side.

Others want to focus on their studies, and not have to juggle school and a relationship.

Some people just don’t have the time or patience to be in a relationship, like Mario Lakovic.

Lakovic, 19, a sophomore at Columbia College, was in a six-month relationship before he entered college.

Lakovic met his ex-girlfriend at his job, and called his relationship with her “picture perfect.”

“I didn’t have the time to be with her. I needed more space, and I wanted to have more fun,” said Lakovic. “The relationship ended on a great note and [we were] very mature about it. We’re still good friends.”

Another reason why they broke up before Lakovic entered college was the age difference. Lakovic’s ex-girlfriend was a year younger than him.

Even though Lakovic currently doesn’t have a girlfriend, he still believes that he can find his dream girl in college.

“I think it’s possible to meet your dream person in college or anywhere,” said Lakovic. “ In college, you meet people who have the same similarities as you, so I don’t see why it’s not possible.”

The dating game is a lot different and a lot to handle while in college. You never know if you will meet the person that you have dreamt about. If you do [date], be cautious and be safe. If you don’t, everything happens for a reason. Enjoy your college years!

*Photography by Billy Montgomery

Brittany Rodgers

Brittany Rodgers

Brittany Rodgers is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism. She has written for a variety of publications, including The Chicago Tribune and Chicago Defender newspaper. She also is a blogger and enjoys social media.

Brittany can be contacted at BrittLRodgers@yahoo.com

Website: heartbrittlashay.tumblr.com