College is a place where young adults have to perform well in all their classes, apply for internships, network and try to sustain an active social life. And usually, they also want to get a date. As Valentine’s Day comes around again, everything is turning pink and heart-shaped. For those navigating dating in college, and especially on Christian college campuses, the stages of coupling can be stressful.
Fashion major Ashley Izquierdo has not always been comfortable with her dating life at Lipscomb University.
“I haven’t tried to jump into the dating Lipscomb scene,” says Izquierdo. “On dating apps, I have seen people who are from Lipscomb, and to me, that’s just kinda weird because what if you swipe right and you see that person the next day? I’d just rather not do all of that.”
Izquierdo isn’t alone. Just a 12-minute drive away at Trevecca Nazarene University, business major Daniela Andret shares a similar story, as she prefers to date outside the campus bubble.
“With Christian dating and me as a Christian Catholic, it’s very hard to truly stay with all the norms that Christians believe in,” says Andret, who lives off campus.
If the dating scene isn’t active on their college campuses, then how and where do students at Nashville’s Christian universities date?
“On Instagram and in person,” Andret says. “Or when I go to church, a lot of people have been wanting to set me up with their sons, or just guys in general come up to me.”
Dating while in college can be challenging for a lot of reasons. Dating apps often perpetuate casual dating and “situationship” status — a romantic or sexual relationship in which the people involved haven’t made things official.
That’s why Atdhair Granados, a marketing major at Trevecca, says he’s no longer dating or seeking a relationship — something studies show is becoming increasingly common with Generation Z.
“I’m dating to marry; I don’t wanna mess around — I’ve never been one to apply to that idea,” Granados says. “I think it’s my religion more than anything. I was raised Catholic. Some of my friends just go around and try to sleep with a lot of women. I don’t see the appeal.”
Granados says he can’t find the time to fit a person into his life because of his personal and academic responsibilities, but he is looking to marry.
“Not right now, but eventually yes — I want to get married and have kids,” Granados says. “That is the goal always, but right now I’m not looking to marry because I feel like I’m young. I have a lot left to live for. I got goals.”
However time-consuming going on several dates might be while juggling classes and a social life, students are not giving up on meeting new people, as it will bring them closer to a serious relationship.
“To date or not to date, I would say to date just because I’m delulu [slang for delusional] like that, and I’m still wanting to find someone,” Izquierdo says. “At the moment I think it’s just casual dating. I think that helps out a lot because I get to see for myself what I want and what I don’t want from a person.”
From dating as a reverend to surviving in a post-dating-app society and picking the right spot for a first date
