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Sex and Dating
Dating in college can be a lot of fun, especially for
first years who are constantly meeting new people (which can equal many
opportunities to hook up!). But don’t forget that relationships
are complicated. First-year students often become serial daters,
skipping from partner to partner as a way of testing the dating
waters. Here are a few tips to get you started and keep you out
of dating hell:
- If you’re going to date someone in your
dorm, do so with extreme caution and take things slowly. Gossip
spreads fast in a dorm.
- Dating someone you meet in a class is okay as long as
you start the relationship after midterms. If it turns ugly fast, you’ve
only got a few weeks of seeing the person before class is over.
If it’s great, then you won’t be distracted in class by your sweetheart
for long.
- Don’t rush things. Go out on a few dates before you commit
to anyone.
- If you’re going to be a player, you’re going to land a
player, as well as a bad reputation.
- “No strings attached” relationships do not exist in college.
- Having sex does not guarantee falling in love.
- Lying is ugly; being yourself is much more attractive
than pretending to be someone you’re not.
- If you really want to get to know someone, leave alcohol out
of the dating experience. Yes, alcohol can help to break the ice,
but it will also impair your judgment.
- Lust is physical attraction. Love requires a more meaningful
connection than just sex. It’s easy to get these two emotions confused.
- If you find yourself falling in love, don’t be afraid
to tell the other person: chances are he/she feels the same way
about you.
The Sweetheart Back Home
Many first years are bummed about having to part with
their high school sweethearts. It’s difficult to end a relationship, but
there are some good reasons to start off your college career single.
Maintaining a long-distance relationship is an added pressure to
your already pressure-filled life. Plus, most of these relationships
don’t last the semester; those that do usually come to a grinding
halt by summer. Whatever the case, a long-distance breakup can be
pretty painful—certainly more painful than being realistic with
your sweetie from the start. Breaking up when you go to college
doesn’t mean you won’t ever be together. It also doesn’t mean that
you have to rush into seeing someone else. It just means that you
want to make the transition into college a little easier. | 
