Hookup culture is an essential aspect of college experiences. In our current society, casual sex seems to be promoted everywhere. It's time we break down the cultural experience of hooking up into three categories: the singles, the couples, and those in long-term relationships. It's a Saturday night and you decide to go to your favorite frat house. You walk in and what do you immediately see? Students. Making out. EVERYWHERE. You can't escape it. It does not matter if you are single or in a relationship, male or female, you are constantly surrounded and reminded of the hookup culture that has been bestowed upon your college. So how should one navigate this experience?
The Singles
Being single has its perks, but if you are going to hit up the hookup scene on your college campus, it's important to know exactly what you want from the experience. Just because you're single does not mean you need to hook up with every moving object around you. In fact, sometimes it's better to just go out with friends and dance your ass off. Do not feel pressured to go with the norms practiced by your peers at your school. If you want to be apart of casually hooking up with people, then do it! If you prefer more intimate, serious relationships, then do not feel afraid to turn down a casual hookup or to make it clear that you are looking for more than just a one night stand.
1. Set Expectations: Casual hookups can start to cause an issue when feelings get involved for one person, but not both. So it's important to remember that if you are going to casually hookup with random people on the weekend, don't expect them to message you the next day, or expect them to hookup with you the following weekend. Most people look at casual hooking up to be a one and done type of scenario. If you're not okay with this, then maybe the hookup scene isn't for you, and there is nothing wrong with that. Do not be afraid to voice your opinion on rejecting a one-night stand.
2. Serial Hookups: If you just got out of a relationship, hooking up with the entire frat house or twenty Zeta girls is not going to make you feel better. However, you do not need to go through a recent breakup to start hooking up with a ton of people. If you do decide to hookup with different people every weekend, be SMART about it.
The Couples
In my opinion, starting a relationship in college is the perfect scenario. You do not need to worry about the hookup scene, and you do not have the pressure of having a significant other miles away. It's the perfect balance between the two extremes.
Long-Term Relationships
This category is quite difficult to dissect. When you're in high school, your relationship feels like it is going to last forever, when in reality, that may not be the case. Long-term relationships have an equal chance of succeeding or failing when it comes to transitioning from high school to college. Whether or not a long-term relationship succeeds truly depends on the couple. Having a strong foundation is essential to maintaining a healthy relationship when your significant other is miles apart. Here are a few things you should sort out prior to agreeing to continue a relationship long-distance in college.
1. Set Expectations: Before going to school, establish exactly what you both need and want from the relationship. This will ensure that you are both on the same page even when you are miles apart.
2. Schedule Time for One Another: It's important to set aside time for one another, but don't make your entire schedule around your significant other. Scheduling a time once a week to Facetime allows for consistent communication, but also provides you the ability to have your own social life at school.
3. Focus on Yourself: College is all about exploring new interests, making new friends, and finding out what you want to do in life. If your significant other is not supportive or gets in the way of you pursuing your goals, then maybe being in a long-term relationship isn't the best option for you.
4. Trust Each Other: Long-distance relationships can create extreme jealousy, which can lead to the demise of the relationship. Keep jealousy in check and learn to trust your significant other wholeheartedly.
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