There are many difficult aspects to Virginia life: Parking, for one, is miserably minimal, the traffic makes you want to reconsider higher education and lines outside of bars on weekend nights make me want to scream because I am actually allowed to be inside and yet, I'm the one waiting.
Another tricky part of being a Wahoo is that moment when you have gone on a few dates or hung out with a person you are romantically interested in and have no idea whether or not you have a boy/girlfriend. How can you know unless you have the painfully awkward "define the relationship" conversation, aka the DTR? Well, my friends, you're in luck. Here are five ways to be pretty certain you and your romantic interest are headed down Commitment Street.
You are calling (or receiving calls) close to every day.
Calling is becoming somewhat archaic, I know, as we are ever changing how we communicate. Yet, I would argue that the majority of us in college still find calling one another the best form of communication, especially when you are interested in someone romantically. It shows that you are invested enough to actually pick up the phone and be creative in your conversation instead of simply texting movie quotes or IMing while studying.
She has something of hers in your room at all times.
If she constantly forgets her books for class, absentminded distribution of paraphernalia is essentially a DTR in itself, unless you are dealing with an extremely forgetful person. Leaving behind her stuff implies that she will return to get it, which then implies she would have a non-awkward reason to stop by and hang out. Leaving behind articles could simply imply his or her security about where you are in the path to commitment. Of course, this is also a commonly used trick by both the guys and gals out there who leave behind something to ensure a later call and continued perusal of a relationship. Either way, the intention is there on some person's part.
Daytime outings like running errands become commonplace.
I hate ragging on how much romantic life at the University is dependent on alcohol, but it's a reality perpetuated by the audience. So when daytime errands or activities, sans alcohol, become a common activity between you and your romantic interest, you can be pretty confident there is a more serious interest than a simple crush.
The invitation to a date function is implied.
Lots of people consider this a no-brainer and its occurrence only plausible if the two parties are actively aware of their dating status. Yet many of us have been in long-term romantic pursuits which had no definition but a lot of date functions. Yours truly spent a year with the same date to every party before I got a title, and though I knew these invitations didn't mean we were technically dating, I was aware that they implied the potential for the future or that I was barking up the wrong tree and my interest was being polite. Whatever the case, there is pretty much no doubt that one of you hopes to seal the deal.
Invariably, people show more romantic interest in you than they did before.
Life has a sense of humor and never lets you forget it is the boss. Hence, it's no wonder that every time you go for someone, other people find you attractive and pursue you, too. It's quite possible the mysterious quality of the now-you-can't-have-me confidence you exude sends out an attractive vibe that no one can ignore. I have no clue. But I am more than certain that more times than not, you will find when you've got one person interested, there's at least another, if not more. I am also quite certain when the well seems dry, you're in for a drought.
None of these situations, either independently or collectively, ensure you have a committed relationship on your hands -- all they can do is imply to you and your interest that there is a chance, an investment and a hope. Hopefully, by taking a look at what you are doing and with whom you are doing it, you can gain a little more control over your romantic life than you can on Route 29 or the Corner.
Callan' s column runs bi-weekly on Tuesdays. She can be reached at blount@cavalierdaily.com.
Read More
It’s okay not to be okay
By Mai Hukuoka | 2 days agoWhether talking to a friend, a loved one or a professional, it is so necessary, and human, to need more than you can provide for yourself.
Taking a break at Tangerines Kitchen
By Charley Thomas | 4 days agoWhat the restaurant somewhat lacks in ambiance, it compensates for in tasty dishes and prompt service.
Virginia Policy Lab — a hub for student-led policy action
By Katherine Haden | December 9, 2024Students propose their own projects and collaborate with other members to research their issues of interest, brainstorm solutions and write policy proposals.
