Dating in academic situations is conveniently built in as though it is on par with Spanish club or debate team. It’s essentially an expected extracurricular activity that all students partake in. As a result, many people find their life-long (in theory) partners at college or during the college years. I don’t know the figures, but I’m willing to bet this is especially true of institutions where the M.R.S. is lauded as one of their top degrees.
Sinful Singlehood
In my time as a single girl I’ve been praised and I’ve been pitied for a status that really doesn’t have much to do with anything I have or have not done in the grand scheme of things. And now, I’ve encountered a new perspective on my single status. Apparently, it’s flat-out sinful. As the only single person in my Bible study (13 people, that’s right everyone else in the group attends with their spouse), things naturally tend toward the awkward side for me.
Check Your Baggage at the Door
I have little patience for people who use emotional baggage to justify treating someone poorly in any type of relationship. Our world has forged crutches and cultivated convenient excuses for individuals to use whenever they choose not to take responsibility for their own actions. My lack of sympathy for these individuals likely causes some dissent, maybe even anger. I simply don’t understand why anything someone endured in the past gives them permission to take it out on someone else, especially someone they “love.” The seriousness of the behavior can range from commitment issues to abuse.
Unemployed and…Undesirable?
To be completely honest, I must admit that prior to being laid off, unemployment was an mark in the con column of my dating pro con lists. Even if it wasn’t an instant deal breaker, it didn’t bode well for the potential romantic interest. If someone didn’t have a big boy job or any job for that matter (or was at least in school working toward a degree that would garner him this grown up position), he obviously lacked the drive and ambition I find attractive. Now that I find myself on the other side of this unfortunate situation, I see it a little bit differently—and am slightly ashamed of my former stance.