When the leaves start to fall and the air turns crisp, the beginning of a new season marks an opportunity to start romanticizing your life and embarking on new relationships.
When you first get to college, one of the most exciting aspects of your new living situation is being surrounded by a fresh community. According to a University of Michigan study, 40% of university students participate in the dating scene, and 24% of them are in a committed relationship. As new events and activities pop up around campus during the fall season, why not open yourself up to the possibility of experiencing them with someone else? While some argue that college is the time to be single, exploring romantic relationships in college has many benefits.
“No matter what point you’re at in your life, there’s always room for mistakes,” said biology junior Ethan Gromacki, “I think it’s a good time right now while we’re still young to be able to explore and figure out who you are by pursuing relationships.”
Having a partner can add a new sense of purpose to your everyday. The Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern reports that having human connection can increase your life span and having a partner that you can rely on can provide more purpose.
“It can really help you grow your time management,” said Gromacki, “It also can help you learn how to genuinely care for someone, even (if) you have something else going on.”
College is one of the most important times for personal development, and you discover so much about yourself as you face the challenges a relationship can entail. The coziness of fall can lead to some of the best date ideas, and a new school year fits perfectly with the chance to start a new relationship.
“Anytime you’re in any kind of relationship … it has the potential to stretch you and grow you,” said Natalie Czimskey, associate professor of instruction in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. “It requires something of you to be in any kind of relationship, and that is an opportunity for growth.”
It can be scary to put yourself out there because it puts you in a vulnerable state. This fear of rejection may cause people to turn away from relationships. But the benefits of at least putting yourself out there and giving relationships a chance far outweighs the negatives.
“The worst thing they can say is no,” said Czimskey, “The best thing that could happen is it turns into a fruitful relationship, and that’s incredible.”
You shouldn’t shy away from opening yourself up to someone. Even if it doesn’t work out there is so much that you can take away from a relationship and that you can implement in your life moving forwards.
A common rhetoric among young people is that college is a time to be single. Many argue that college is the time to go out and explore your romantic opportunities. People may be afraid to tie themselves down in a committed relationship. However, having a partner doesn’t mean you lose yourself in the relationship, it just means you get to share your experiences with someone else.
While prioritizing yourself is valuable, it doesn’t mean that you should shy away from the opportunity to create new memories with another person. It doesn’t take any time to go to a coffee shop with someone and get a pumpkin latte together, so why limit yourself by being closed off?
Go to the pumpkin patch, watch halloween movies together and give yourself the chance to meet somebody.
Healy is a journalism junior from San Antonio, Texas.
