It's funny, looking back on my views on dating when I was in middle school because they are much different from my views now. In fact, I wouldn't hesitate to say that they are polar opposite. In some ways, I was a bit more adventurous, but I definitely wasn't as smart about being adventurous as I would be now.

I used to be the girl who always wanted a relationship . I put way too much of myself into a relationship with a boy that wouldn't last more than two months. My self-worth was equivalent to my relationship status.

Another huge mistake I made was basing a relationship on looks and flattery. Yes, he might take you by the hand and tell you that you are the most beautiful girl in the world, but that doesn't mean that he really loves you.

In my sophomore year of high school, I decided that maybe I should take a step back from the dating world until after high school. Here I am five years later and still single. However, I am not bitter, but instead am so grateful for my singleness. I have learned how to be single in a world that places too much emphasis on having a significant other. I think it's important to learn who you are and what you want before you start a serious relationship. I wholeheartedly believe in the old-fashioned sense of the word dating. I think people should go on dates! Go on friend dates, coffee dates, and breakfast dates. Learn what you like and what you don't like in a person. Go out on dates with more than one person (not at the same time of course). Dating is supposed to be a time to have fun and discover yourself. But, you also need to learn how to be single. Go out and try new things build up strong friendships and learn new hobbies.

Being in a relationship is great, don't get me wrong. But, I want to be in a relationship for the right reasons, no just be in a relationship because I'm lonely. I want a best friend. I think your significant other should be someone you go on random adventures with at 2 am. They should be someone who you could live without them, but you don't want to. Dating is a choice, and so is loving someone.

Learn to be okay with being single. Be that person who brightens other people's lives just by being there. Don't waste all your time trying to find "the one" because you could miss out on a lot of awesome people and adventures. You have more time to find a relationship than you think you do, but you only have so much time to goof off with friends before you have a mountain of responsibilities and bills to pay. I know that the fear if missing out is so prevalent in our society, but don't let that force you into a relationship.