As I was scrolling through Facebook, I came across this article titled, "You Should Go To College Single. No Questions Asked." The article basically says that even if you are happy in your current relationship, you should break up with your significant other just because you're going to college and don't feel like having to put in the effort that it takes to make a relationship work. As someone who met their significant other at the age of 17 and is still in the same relationship my senior year of college, at the age of 22, I have to say that I fully disagree with this authors argument. Here's Why:
1. I'm Not Worried
The authors first point in her article was that "you won't have to constantly worry if your significant other is being faithful." Honestly, if this is your issue then you shouldn't break up just because you're going to college. You should break up because you don't trust each other and trust is one of the most important parts of being in a relationship. I have never once been worried about my significant other not being faithful to me in the past five years we have been together.
2. Yes, I am capable of having guy friends even though I am in a relationship.
The second point this author made was that if you are in a relationship, you can't make friends with other guys. As long as it's a platonic relationship, there's nothing wrong with it. And if your boyfriend has a problem with that then once again, you have some trust issues.
3. I like calling my boyfriend and telling him about my day.
This girl literally stated as one of her points in her article, "you won't have to call someone all the time." If you really want to break up with your significant other simply because you don't want to take a small amount of time out of your day to call him and catch up, he's better off without you. In my opinion, this is both an immature way of thinking and pure laziness. If you really care about that person, you're going to want to call him to talk about your day instead of thinking about it as such a burden. Maybe the problem isn't college, maybe the problem is you're just in the wrong relationship.
4. I have more fun when I am with my boyfriend.
The authors next point is "have more fun" where she goes on to state, "You can go to a party and not be afraid to dance with a guy or get a guy's number. When the cute guy in economics class asks you out, you can say yes." I know I am probably starting to sound like a broken record here but once again...the relationships the problem, not college. You obviously just don't want to be with your significant other if those thoughts even cross your mind.
5. Why would I be afraid to have fun?
"Having fun without them is totally okay, but it would be even better if you were single and didn't have to worry about him viewing your Instagram and Snapchat stories and asking if you even miss him." My relationship does not stop me from having fun and if you're worried about him viewing your social media posts, then you're out doing something that you shouldn't be doing...things that you wouldn't be doing if you really cared about your relationship.
6. Yes, I am still able to keep my relationship and focus on my classes.
This author claims that it is just "easier to end it before school starts" because it is harder to focus on classes if you're worried about making time for them. I completely disagree. Sometimes taking a break to give my boyfriend a call or go see him clears my mind and allows me to focus more on my school work. Sometimes he even helps me with my school work. Yes, there are days when we barely talk and that's okay. We are both busy and we both have things to do. We do miss each other but it does not strain our relationship.
In my opinion, if you really do feel this way about your relationship, you should end it...just not for the reason that this author thinks. The reason is not college, the reason is you are not with the right person. It is not right to make the general statement that no one should ever go to college while they are still in a relationship just because you are choosing not to. The only reason it makes sense to end your relationship before going to college is if you truly believe that you aren't right for each other.
I definitely would not be where I am today without my significant other by my side. I also know plenty of other couples who have been together since high school and also made it through college together with minimal issues. Never assume you know everything about relationships that you are not in yourself.