Community college isn't just a time for taking control of your academic life, although your main reason for seeking higher education is to plot a course for your future career.
It's also a time to explore social freedom, making friends with all kinds of different people, staying out late, and attending the occasional community college house party.
And of course, for many students it's also a chance to explore love connections and begin forming intimate relationships.
However, it's not always the safest venue when it comes to dating.
So while you should certainly put yourself out there and see what develops, you also need to practice safety first.
Here are just a few dos and don'ts you may want to observe during your time in community college.
DO: Act sociably.
Community college provides you with all kinds of opportunities to meet people (classes, events, parties, etc.) and you should take full advantage.
Not only could the kids you get to know become future business contacts and lifelong friends, but one of them might just end up being your soul mate.
So don't hesitate to meet as many people as you can and see what kinds of relationships develop.
DON'T: Accept open drinks.
There's nothing wrong with attending social functions, but you need to party smart.
You've no doubt heard of roofies and other drugs that people put into open drinks, so it's in your best interest to bring your own beer to parties or insist on getting an unopened bottle.
You should also adhere to the buddy system, whereby one friend refrains from drinking to keep the others out of trouble.
DO: Meet in public places.
Until you get to know the person (or people) you're dating, it's not a bad idea to meet up in places where there are other people present.
You're not likely to be taken advantage of when there are witnesses around since most predators don't want to be caught in the act.
DON'T: Ignore your instincts.
You know when something feels off and you need to learn to trust those instincts instead of second-guessing yourself.
The fight-or-flight response is an instinct intended to keep you safe, but civilized society has worked hard to train us to trust reasoning over physical responses.
The result is that you may be inclined to tell yourself that the bad vibes you're feeling from your date are nothing more than a result of the Mexican food you had for dinner.
By the same token, your instincts might be telling you that this guy or girl is "the one". Either way, you should pay attention to what your body is telling you; it's usually right.
DO: Bring your own protection.
Sometimes things progress faster than you planned and you want to be prepared.
It's never a good idea to rely on your date to pack this essential, so keep prophylactics on hand just in case.
Otherwise be prepared to say no in the interest of your personal health and safety (there's a reason why nearly half of people in your age group have STDs, so unless you feel like flipping a virtual coin, it's better to be safe than sorry).
DON'T: Let someone pressure you.
Unfortunately, there are no home learning courses provided to teach you how to handle yourself in dating situations.
Students rely largely on parents, siblings, and peers to impart this information, which means your education could be spotty at best.
So you might not know how to say no to a date that is pressuring you to go beyond what you're comfortable with.
But it's easy. Just say no.
You don't have to explain and you don't have to feel guilty.
If you've gone as far as you want to it is your right to say no.
If you don't, you're the only one who's going to suffer for it.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I can appreciate the points made here and I concur with many.
Glad to hear Perry 🙂