If you’re one in a million, and you’re taken, how hard was it to score a first date? What is dating? Dating in western societies has been stated to be the stage of a romantic relationship where you and another person fall in love with each other. You engage in activities together, and even tell other people that you’re unavailable because you’re seeing your partner.

Since the start of a nationwide pandemic, dating has been harder for people. The Washington Post states, “Instead of the traditional going out to grab drinks after work, singles have been experimenting with virtual dates and masked walks.”

I actually had no idea that people still went on dates. With a pandemic, how do you meet other people? Personally, I have had a hard time meeting new people. Now that I’m in college, it’s not as bad, however, times are very isolating.

We’re still very young, so “hooking up,” is said to be the most common form of relationship during the college years. APA.org reports that “Between 60 and 80 percent of North American college students have had some sort of hook-up experience.”

In general, I feel that meeting people on smaller campuses is a lot harder than it’s said to be, which is why singles can be scarce. Many students resort to online dating by using sites such as Tinder or Hinge. There are millions of people all over the world that use these sites, and I have rarely heard of a relationship that lasted from them. However, many people tend to use these apps for entertainment.

I have tried using these apps and have found it exhausting. Never having the right pictures or the money to buy power packs is very frustrating, and it forces you to question your worth and value.

It’s important to remember that most times when you meet someone online, they may not be who they claim they are. Meeting in person is what I’d prefer, only because it’s more authentic and you’re more likely to find a friend in that person later on. When in doubt, be friends.

Is dating important? It hasn’t affected my life in any sort of drastic way. I’m not sure what it means to be “dating,” or “seeing people,” because I usually keep these connections as friends. It’s crucial to keep in mind that dating is supposed to lead to something more steady between you and another person. If that’s not what you’re looking for, don’t date. It saves a lot of time for you and the other person. It really sucks seeing a friend get their heart broken, you never know what to say to help them feel better.

This is why I don’t feel as if dating is all that worth it. Spending time with yourself is just as entertaining. I believe that my purpose in life is to do far more than date, however, meeting people is fun, and if I ever had the time, or the chance, I would date far more regularly.

Confidence is important. Be yourself, and you’ll meet all kinds of people. Love who you want to love, consider carefully and think thoroughly before you want to date someone. You could meet your soulmate at Augie, you never know!. With COVID-19 in play, be kind. We all are searching for a special someone.