By Kelsey Miller
College is hard, especially if you’re a Scripps kid. Adding a relationship into the mix? Now, that seems impossible. But believe it or not, there is hope for all journalism majors at Ohio University. It just takes a little getting used to and some organized skill. Just follow these steps and you and your relationship will be golden, guaranteed:
Decide if the relationship is even worth it. Is this someone who you’ve been pining after for ages? Love at first sight, perhaps? Or is this someone that caught your attention on a typical night out with your friends? Will this person hold you back from your dreams of becoming successful in public relations? By answering these questions honestly, you will save yourself a lot of time, stress and effort in the long run.
Stay organized. So, you have decided that this person is worth it, eh? OK, let the work begin! As well as keeping the relationship with your significant other, you will have to keep an equally strong bond with a planner. This is actually your first baby, congratulations! This planner will be with you at all times to keep you on track and focused. That way, you will have no problems visually seeing when you can pencil your boo in for some face time in person or just a few minutes of FaceTime on your iPhones.
Don’t get overly involved. Scripps kids are known for their overwhelming schedules. Don’t forget that quality over quantity is still very helpful logic to live by. It’s extremely important to be involved, but when you go overboard on all of your meetings and organizations, you’ll spread yourself too thin and become resentful of Scripps and everyone around you, including your other half. The point in a relationship is to enjoy one another’s company. That’s hard to do if you don’t have time and are stressed and always grouchy. College is supposed to be about surrounding yourself with people you love, and doing what you love. So, do yourself a favor and just enjoy the ride. You’re a Scripps kid; you WILL succeed.
Stay in contact frequently. It is important to always be on the same page as your girlfriend/boyfriend. Whether that’s a text message asking how their day is going, or just a quick goodnight call. And even though you have so much cool stuff going on with your life, be sure to ask about them, too! In long-distance situations, the time that you have with together is valuable and the last thing that you want to do is complain about how stressed you are. By asking about them, it gives you an escape from your busy life, and can lead to great conversations, even if it’s just a 10-minute phone call. Not to mention, asking about someone else is a guaranteed way to maintain a long and healthy relationship with anyone!
Spoil your man/woman! It is crucial that your relationship is give and take. Don’t be old school and think that only one party is supposed to treat the other. If you aren’t looking to spend any money, complimenting his or her inner and outer beauty frequently goes a LONG way. They will not only stick around, but they will appreciate everything you do and will reciprocate in many ways.
Make sure to not let the relationship interfere with your college experience. College is a major time in your life that you’ll never get back and it is important to be selfish in some situations. Although a solid relationship is fun to have and maintain, it can also hold you back from making friends or joining clubs that you were always interested in. Before you can be the other half of someone else’s life, you need to figure out who you are. If he or she wants to be with you, they won’t hold you back from fulfilling your dreams.
It’s all about balance. Once you find it, it will be bliss. As I said earlier, enjoy the ride ladies and gentlemen. It will all happen in good time.