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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at American chapter.

When we are growing up, and watching coming-of-age films, we see how easy it is for love to flourish. A shy student meets a more outgoing personality in class and they share notes, which eventually turns into a wild romance, but in reality, this is not how the dating scene works nowadays. 

It is evident that gender roles are changing. Young people have different ideas of society, style, and what they want to dow ith their lives. In coming-of-age films, and even not too long ago in our society, this idea of going to college, meeting someone, graduating, starting a career, getting married, and having a family have been ingrained into our minds as what life is supposed to look like. 

However, college is such a crucial part of most people’s life. Those college years are used for them to figure out what they want to do, who they want to be with, and where they want to end up. Therefore, it is conspicuous to note that young people will have different priorities after attending college, and consequently, finding someone who will share the same views or priorities will become more difficult. 

 

Couple Bench View Hiking Summer Fun Relationship Original
Charlotte Reader / Her Campus

This is where casual dating and dating apps, like Tinder, come into the picture. Casually dating someone is sometimes just an escape from all the pressures a college student might experience. They see their partner as someone who they can rely on, even if it is just temporary. The issue arises when the couple does not clarify what their “title” is, or if they even have a “title” in the hopes that the casual relationship will turn into something serious. 

This is why communication is important. Being able to communicate helps sets boundaries and conveys an understanding of where the other person stands in the relationship.This can avoid a lot of confusion, misunderstandings, and prevent people from getting their feelings hurt. 

two woman sit in front of slatted doors. one is wrapping her arms around the other.
Hian Oliveira | Unsplash

Of course, socializing and meeting new people is fun, but everyone should realize that they do not have to act like someone they are not in order to impress a significant other or someone they might have feelings for. Typically, more femme people do not want to come off as too strong or aggressive because that can be interpreted as clingy, whereas more masculine personalities feel the need to hide their emotions.  

Society does put pressure on young people to find the ‘right’ person or to find someone who we connect with on a deeper level. This adds stress and can hurt young college students in the process because of societal pressure. We should realize that we need to take care of ourselves and enjoy our college years before a healthy relationship can be formed.

Photos: Her Campus Media

 

Katherine (she/her) is a second-year student at American and is majoring in Political Science. Katherine loves to write about current events, relationships, and politics. She is currently living in Washington DC.