The Game of Dating

By Jernice Kelley
Web Content Contributor

Dating in college or any stage in life is quite a humbling experience. We never really forget our dating experiences because they are a part of our journey through life.

The game of dating can be tiresome. With the emergence of online dating, and the prevalence of ghosting, half the time you don’t even make it to the date.

 As someone who dates casually here and there, you never really know what to expect or who you are going to meet. Not to mention, the stories you get out of it.

Everyone has their own dating style. I am never really looking for anything specific, but I more so enjoying the moment and the people I meet.

With dating apps like Tinder and Bumble, you get to expand your dating pool.

Even though these apps are great for meeting people, relationships will not always come from them. Apps like Tinder and Bumble are primarily known within hookup culture, but not everyone that uses those apps is into hooking up.

A lot of people do not enjoy online dating though, which is completely understandable. Initially, I was not a fan either, but a good friend of mine said that she recommended dating in all forms.

She believes it adds to the experience, but also your perspective on what you want out of a partner. That resonated with me.

Although, I will say that there is something about online dating that keeps you coming back once you start using it.

It could be the confidence boost you get every time you score a new match, or it could be the convenience. However, you also might be in for the most cringe-inducing messages you have ever seen.

No one ever really knows what they are doing when it comes to dating, especially college students. If you are flipping through profiles online, then you may worry about how to start the conversation, how to keep it going or sometimes you end up matching with some pretty weird people.

If you prefer the traditional way of meeting someone,– you know– like in a coffee shop or just anywhere really, it can be just as daunting.

How do you know if someone is interested in you, or how do you go about asking them out? As a shy person, it gives me stress just thinking about it.

So how do you succeed in the game of dating? Well, that just depends on your end goal. A lot of trial and error comes into play–which can suck–but don’t let that throw you off your game.

Keep striving, keep trying, and stay open.

Featured image by Jernice Kelley via Canva.