Okay, so I’ve been seeing a lot of chatter online about first boyfriends in college, and it brought back a FLOOD of memories. Figured I’d share my own chaotic experience and maybe help someone else navigate the, uh, interesting waters of college romance.
The Setup
I went into college totally clueless. Seriously, I’d had, like, one “boyfriend” in high school, and it mostly consisted of awkward hand-holding and even more awkward silences. So, college felt like a whole new ballgame. I was ready to, you know, experience things.
Meeting “The One” (Spoiler: He Wasn’t)
It started, as these things often do, at a party. A frat party, to be exact. Red Solo cups, questionable music, the whole nine yards. And there he was – let’s call him “Chad” – looking all cute and charming. We talked, we laughed, he walked me back to my dorm, and I was smitten. I mean, butterflies, the whole shebang.
The Whirlwind Romance (aka, the Honeymoon Phase)
The next few weeks were a blur. We were inseparable. Study dates in the library (that mostly turned into making out in the stacks), late-night pizza runs, going to every single campus event together… It felt like a movie, honestly. I was convinced I’d found my soulmate.
The Reality Check
Then, things started to… shift. Little things, at first. He’d get weirdly quiet when I talked about my future plans (which, at the time, involved traveling the world and definitely not settling down). He’d make comments about my friends, like, subtle digs that made me feel uncomfortable. And then there was the whole “not really introducing me to his friends” thing.
The biggest red flag, to me, was that I changed myself in subtle ways just for him.
- Started wearing make-up (even never worn before).
- Stop playing my favourite games.
- Stop talking to certain friends.
The Crash and Burn
It all came crashing down during, of all things, a dodgeball tournament. Don’t ask. Long story short, he got super competitive, yelled at me for messing up a play, and then proceeded to ignore me for the rest of the day. I was crushed, confused, and, honestly, pretty angry.
The Aftermath
The breakup was messy. Lots of tears, lots of awkward run-ins on campus, lots of late-night Ben & Jerry’s sessions with my real friends (the ones Chad didn’t like). It took me a while to get over it, to realize that I’d been so caught up in the idea of having a boyfriend that I’d ignored some pretty major warning signs.
But you know what? I am still grateful for this whole thing.
The Lessons Learned
So, what did I learn from my first college boyfriend fiasco?
- Don’t rush into anything. That initial spark is fun, but it’s not everything.
- Pay attention to the red flags. If something feels off, it probably is.
- Don’t lose yourself in a relationship. Your dreams, your friends, your you – they’re all important.
- It’s okay to mess up. Seriously, everyone makes mistakes. It’s how you learn and grow.
- Dodgeball tournaments are a breeding ground for drama. Avoid at all costs. (Just kidding… mostly.)
College is a time for exploration, and that includes relationships. Just remember to be smart, be safe, and be true to yourself. And if it all goes up in flames? Well, you’ll have a great story to tell, and you’ll be stronger for it. Trust me.
