College is a place where students are exposed to life’s possibilities and are taught to find ways to make a unique and significant mark on society … blah, blah, blah. It’s a very transitory state because most students have an idea of what they want to accomplish, but must go through the burden of learning how to do so.

I like to look at college as a person’s launching ground before they are blasted into the universe that is the real world. This is a mentality I share with many students, and I feel it’s one that screws with relationships.

Because many people look at college as the last fun time to be immature and irresponsible before they are kicked in the ass by life, they don’t allow themselves to commit to real relationships. I’m sure it’s also in the back of their minds that if they do, the image of the rest of their life will have to change because of the compromises they’ll be forced to make for the person they’re with.

I mean, it makes sense. In a life of innumerable possibilities and opportunities, who the hell would want to settle down? Twenty is the new 10 (well … sort of). Unlike the generations before us, when our parents and grandparents were already thinking about marriage, we’re thinking about finding cool internships, driving across the country or backpacking through Europe.

I’ve been in a relationship for almost a year now and I must admit, I’m a little afraid of what’s going to happen if we get into grad school far away from each other, or if one of us decides to, I don’t know, say, join the Peace Corps and never return.

In a world where we are taught to be idealistic, strong and even selfish, I can’t help but wonder if even the most serious of relationships at our age are more than likely doomed.

Many people I know seem to think so, which is why they play games and fool around with people they like, but refuse to commit to them. I have to admit they relieve themselves of the burden of caring about someone in their future, but I’m not so sure they’re any the happier for it.

I’m not aiming to tell anyone to listen to your heart and believe in love … hell no. If anything, I’m sayin’ that relationships at this time in our life are challenging, full of compromises and a little too mature for people that just want to have fun. For those that plan on forging ahead with traveling, getting jobs or going to other schools, they are even more difficult.

But what the hell, why not try to defy the odds? It might work out … you never know.