Knock, knock. It’s that guy who slept over at your place last night (whose name you barely remember) knocking at your door to come back for his phone that he left. As you answer the door you think to yourself, did I really let a stranger sleep over? But then again, all my friends at the bars last night kept telling me how hot he was and how I shouldn’t let him go, so it’s fine right?

This hypothetical situation and many others probably sound familiar, especially for a college student. We’ve grown up (sort of), are living in our own places and making our own decisions. That includes decisions about which guys we’re going to date and get to know.

But what’s the right way to go about that? The world, and many, many magazine articles, keeps telling us that it’s okay to hook-up with a guy we just met. It’s telling us that it’s no big deal to just let loose when we’ve had a little bit too much to drink.

It’s also defining what we think a relationship is supposed to be and that the “traditional” way is a thing of the past. However, I disagree, and I’m sick of the world and these gossip magazine writers telling me that my standards are too high. I’m tired of them making me feel guilty for having expectations.

Girls, there is absolutely nothing wrong with expecting a guy to treat you with the respect you deserve. There is nothing wrong with him calling, picking you up for the date, opening the car door and paying for a nice sit-down meal. What better way to get to know him?

It seems that these “dates” have been swallowed up into the past. Now, it’s simply “let things happen the way they’re supposed to happen.” While I firmly believe everything happens for a reason, you don’t have to let life, or a guy, pass you by. It’s okay to have the confidence to ask him out. It’s okay to talk to him first. But what’s not okay is letting the world tell you how you’re supposed to do it or that you’re supposed to wait for him.

It’s not okay to let the world tell you that hooking up is cool and that you should be “concerned” if your significant other doesn’t want to have sex a few months into the relationship. Carry the relationship out at your pace, on your terms. You know what truly makes you happy, and you deserve to be treated with the utmost respect.

So, when you’re sitting at home on a Saturday night, wishing you could be out on a date with a cute guy, don’t feel guilty about not giving into what the world defines as dating. Don’t let it tell you you’re weird for not being out with someone. Because you deserve to have those expectations and you deserve to date how YOU want.

You are the daughter of King, so why shouldn’t you be treated like the princess you are.