Relationships do not have to affect your grades

Tenesha Hughes
Staff Writer

Are you one of the students who start to feel lonely when it starts to get cold outside? Are you hoping to find a “bae” to keep you warm?

“Cuffing season” has arrived and all I have been hearing are students talking about how they wish they were in a relationship. “Cuffing season” is a phrase that is used when the hot and summer days have ended and the cold and chilly nights have began. The indoor activities have you wanting to be “cuffed” by someone.

Growing up, I was never in a serious committed relationship. In high school I felt I was too young to be tied down. However, in college when you are in your late teenage years and early twenties it is the time to start dating with a purpose. I have always imagined myself being in a serious relationship in college with the person I want to marry.  After being in a relationship for five months, I would say that it doesn’t affect your academic success.

According to compusexplorer.com 63 percent of college women hope to meet their spouse in college. Three out of five female college students agree that college is where they hope to meet their mate.

In a recent survey by StudyMode it suggests that while many students have a significant other, their romantic life doesn’t interfere with their grades.  The majority of students surveyed said they are prioritizing school over romantic relationships in the long term.

According to the survey, around three quarters of students want to wait up to 10 years after college graduation before getting engaged, and around 40 percent of students said they don’t even expect to meet their future spouse until after college.

Relationships in college can be more work than your actual school work. Do not get too caught up in trying to find a “bae” that you find yourself slipping in your school work. When the long and stressful nights of homework and studying start to kick in, it is the perfect time to study together and get your work done. If you are in a relationship just remember the true reason you came to Jackson State University. It is a must that you stay focused and keep that high GPA.

I feel my generation is too stuck on thinking short term rather than long term. I think social media and modern day music are to blame. Most songs do not really focus on “real love.”

College students get into relationships to receive praise from their peers, and show off their relationships like a trophy. I do not tweet, post pictures or use any form of social media to showcase my relationship.

It is time that we start questioning our self-defeating attitudes and behaviors. Relationships are not the issue, how we respond to media distortions and programmed self-hatred is the issue. We need to reverse the power of media. I am not saying do not be in a relationship while in college, I am saying know your priorities so you won’t fall behind.

Know yourself, know your worth relationships are a bonus. Once we start treating each other with respect and worth thats when we should worry about relationships but until then our main focus should be our matriculation through JSU.