YES the answer is yes I have a boyfriend and yes I am committed to him. I hate the reactions that you get from people when they ask you this question. If you have never been in a serious relationship then you can not even begin to imagine what it is like.

1. Committed relationships

I hate the idea of an "open relationship" I just hate it. If I say I'm your girlfriend then that's that. You have my complete trust and respect. As a girlfriend, I am someone who wants to be your best friend and someone who wants to have conversations with you like "What did you have for lunch today?" I genuinely care about you and you have my word on always being faithful. If we are dating then that means that I have found my person who I can be myself around (sweatpants, hair tied, chilling with no makeup on).

2. High School Sweethearts

I would love more than anything to be standing on the alter next to my high school sweetheart and whisper to him, "We made it." I know that I am one of only a handful of couples that are still together after high school. Hey if they can do it, so can I. I look forward to someday telling my children the story of how their dad and I met in a class senior year of high school and how their mom was the first one to make a move. As cliche as that sounds, I still hold strong to the idea.

3. Best Friends

I have no idea how I would have survived the transition from high school to college without my best friend by my side (carrying my boxes to my room). But really I would have been so lost without him. He pushed me to go greek and I am forever grateful for that. I would have never ventured off to a frat house and made as many friends as I have in line at the bathroom. I am so grateful for the friendship and bond that we hold and that is something that is hard for single people to understand.

4. Their family

I absolutely fell in love with my boyfriend's family. This is something that people who just have random hook-ups can't relate to. I wouldn't trade the relationship I have with my boyfriend's brother and sister for anything. It's a little bonus to add to your relationship. I feel as though I have already gained new siblings (still love my own siblings though). Having a relationship with your boyfriend's family is just as important. I value their opinions and love all their stories and many pictures they share with me about their son growing up. I also love all the never ending dad jokes that I hear, it makes me homesick thinking about them.