To Every College-Aged Student: You Probably Shouldn't Be "Dating For Marriage" | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Relationships

To Every College-Aged Student: You Probably Shouldn't Be "Dating For Marriage"

It's OK if your relationship isn't forever.

40
To Every College-Aged Student: You Probably Shouldn't Be "Dating For Marriage"

In my many hours and days spent perusing Twitter and other social media, I've come across a saying many times along the lines of, "If you're not dating for marriage, you're dating for heartbreak." Many have commented on how true it is and saying how it guides them in their relationships. However, I have found the opposite to be true.

Your teenage and young adult years are considered the exploratory years of your life. It's when you discover your passions, your personality, and prepare for the many years of true "adult life". With that considered, why should you consider the people you're with to be your ultimate soulmate? Dating lots of people is OK because it helps you find out what you really do want!

When your only focus in dating is marriage, it can also add a lot of stress to the current relationship. If you aren't spending the rest of your life with this person, then what is the point?

Answer: it's all about the present. Enjoy your moment with your person right now without worrying about where it goes next. Even if you do break up, it doesn't necessarily mean heartbreak. Some relationships simply have their time and place, so focus on making the best of where you're at, and handle the rest later.

In high school, my ex-boyfriend was very focused on marriage. At one point, he told me that he could see himself marrying me one day. When he said that, I was torn — it was supposed to be romantic, but it made me feel overwhelmed and anxious. I barely knew where I was going in life, let alone making a lifetime commitment.

And now, well, he's my ex. In my current relationship, my girlfriend and I take it one day at a time. I've thought about where we'll end up in a few years, but it doesn't scare me. There's less pressure, and we're happier from it.

At the end of the day, it's OK to be excited about marriage! If that's your goal, then I hope you find your person for it. However, don't feel like every person is "the one". In college, there are still so many people to meet and so much personal development to do. Find what's right for you, right now.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
girl with a hat

This is for the girls who have dealt with an emotionally, mentally, physically or verbally abusive father.

The ones who have grown up with a false lens of what love is and how relationships should be. The ones who have cried themselves to sleep wondering why he hurts you and your family so much. This is for all the girls who fall in love with broken boys that carry baggage bigger than their own, thinking it's their job to heal them because you watched your mother do the same.

Keep Reading...Show less
Blair Waldorf Quote
"DESTINY IS FOR LOSERS. IT'S JUST A STUPID EXCUSE TO WAIT FOR THINGS TO HAPPEN INSTEAD OF MAKING THEM HAPPEN." - BLAIR WALDORF.

The world stopped in 2012 when our beloved show "Gossip Girl" ended. For six straight years, we would all tune in every Monday at 9:00 p.m. to see Upper Eastside royalty in the form of a Burberry headband clad Blair Waldorf. Blair was the big sister that we all loved to hate. How could we ever forget the epic showdowns between her and her frenemy Serena Van Der Woodsen? Or the time she banished Georgina Sparks to a Christian summer camp? How about that time when she and her girls took down Bart Bass? Blair is life. She's taught us how to dress, how to be ambitious, and most importantly, how to throw the perfect shade.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

11 Moments Every College Freshman Has Experienced

Because we made it, and because high school seniors deserve to know what they're getting themselves into

262
too tired to care

We've all been there. From move-in day to the first finals week in college, your first term is an adventure from start to finish. In honor of college decisions coming out recently, I want to recap some of the most common experiences college freshmen experience.

1. The awkward hellos on move-in day.

You're moving your stuff onto your floor, and you will encounter people you don't know yet in the hallway. They live on your floor, so you'll awkwardly smile and maybe introduce yourself. As you walk away, you will wonder if they will ever speak to you again, but don't worry, there's a good chance that you will make some great friends on your floor!

Keep Reading...Show less
laptop
Unsplash

The college years are a time for personal growth and success. Everyone comes in with expectations about how their life is supposed to turn out and envision the future. We all freak out when things don't go exactly as planned or when our expectations are unmet. As time goes on, we realize that the uncertainty of college is what makes it great. Here are some helpful reminders about life in college.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Lessons I Learned My Freshman Year

The first year of college opens your eyes to so many new experiences.

33
johnson hall
Samantha Sigsworth

Recently I completed my freshman year of college, and boy, what an experience. It was a completely new learning environment and I can't believe how much I learned. In an effort to save time, here are the ten biggest lessons I learned from my first year of college.

1. Everyone is in the same boat

For me, the scariest part of starting school was that I was alone, that I wouldn't be able to make any friends and that I would stick out. Despite being told time and time again that everyone had these same feelings, it didn't really click until the first day when I saw all the other freshman looking as uneasy and uncomfortable as me. Therefore, I cannot stress this enough, everyone is feeling as nervous as you.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments