Written by Jessie Polley. Media by Charley Phillips.
[divide]
“Can you feel, the love tonight?” I can hear Timon singing that song right now as I look around campus and see all the new couples, especially those that just fit so well together. I’m happy to see my friends finding the one person they want to spend the rest of their life with, and good for them! No, I haven’t found him yet, and yes, it does stink sometimes. I hope, however, that as you read this article—whether you are single or not—you will laugh and smile. For those out there like me, I hope you will embrace your singleness, even if you are upset you didn’t get your “ring-by-spring.”
Let me start by saying this is not in any way, shape, or form a relationship advice column. I’m sorry if you were hoping for that, but if you know me at all you would know I am extremely lacking in that department. It is just a single girl telling you her thoughts. The beauty of spring relationships and the annoyances of them.
Spring is a great time of year, it’s no wonder many people start relationships now as well as ask that certain someone to spend the rest of their lives together. Freshmen year you just notice the blossoming relationships, but by your junior and senior year you can’t go anywhere without seeing a new friend engaged (if you don’t like it, avoid Facebook at all costs!). Here is why I think spring is the time of year these things tend to happen.
It is beautiful outside
Winter just ended and summer hasn’t begun. So it’s not too hot and not too cold. You can go to a park, sit on Scott Field (not Scott’s Field, please start getting this right), or sit on the new swings on campus (which I’m surprised no one has been proposed to on one of those yet!) It’s the time of year when you can be outside for an extended period of time without getting frostbite or a sunburn after 2 minutes, and it feels great!
Everything is new and fresh
Just like your new relationship is starting or growing, so is everything else in God’s creation! The trees are getting their leaves, the grass is green, flowers are blossoming, and love is in the air.
Timing
Seniors tend to get engaged this time of year, and why wouldn’t they? They are graduating, can plan a wedding without worrying about falling behind in school, or having even more stress trying to tackle school and all the problems that
arise with said planning. Relationships start because they’ve taken the time to get to know one another. If you’re a freshman, you’ve broken up with whoever you were dating from back home by now, and you are ready to take that next step. It’s been plenty of time, don’t worry, you probably dumped your ex around Thanksgiving. It’s been 4 or 5 months since then, why not ask the person you’ve been eyeing all year?
But here is what annoys me. It’s time to put my single girl pants on, and share with all you couples why we single people seem so bitter and just annoyed at this time of year. I hope that when I do, finally, get into a relationship that we are not
one of those couples who :
Has to be around each other 24/7
It’s great that you are in a relationship, but you do not need to be calling each other every 5 minutes, texting each other when you guys are in the same room with your friends, or have the same exact schedule so you go everywhere together.
Seriously, you need to be your own person!
Is always hanging on each other
It just makes people uncomfortable. I don’t care if you hold hands, hug, kiss, whatever. But making-out or sitting on each other in Burritt Lounge (or anywhere for that matter) is just disgusting!
Ditches the friends I had prior to said relationship
My friends have helped me through so much, and helped to make me into who I am today. They keep me level headed, let me be the crazy weirdo I am, and I don’t want to throw that away. I value the friendships I’ve made, and if I was dating someone I wouldn’t want them to ditch their friends for me, either.
Yes, everything mentioned in this article has happened in the four years I’ve been here. Maybe I didn’t witness some things (thankfully), but I know people who did. Being single isn’t all bad. I don’t want you to think I’m complaining (maybe in recent years I would have, but I’d like to think I’ve gotten over it). When you’re single, you get a chance to be who God created you to be, and you can go and do whatever you want. Being a single senior, I don’t have to build my future plans around someone else’s, it’s just me. I get to watch my friends get married.
and move on with their lives, and I am incredibly happy for them! I know, though, that I’m just not at that stage in life yet, and it’s fine. I want to travel. I’m not ready to settle down yet, so it’s good that I’m single right now.
If you are single, know you are loved. Don’t be upset by those around you getting in relationships, and don’t be the bitter friend who despises the new addition to your group. Your time will come. Your spring will be just as beautiful. So maybe
you didn’t get your ring-by-spring or that Mrs. Degree, but embrace this spring for what it is anyway, Spring. If nothing else, you can be like my friends and I, and record a ridiculous rap about all the Greenville College relationship things which
is attached in this article for your listening enjoyment.
Whatever you are—single or not—just be you. You have to know who you are before you can be yourself with someone else. Don’t lose who you are if you are in a relationship. Love and accept one another despite your relationship status, and share in the adventures of life together.
Watch some of Greenville College’s lovely ladies in their music video here!
