School-year fling or the real thing?

Thursday, April 23, 2009

By: Greg Coyle

Throughout the course of a school year, students are afforded many different avenues to mingle with each other.

These social settings can sometimes lead to students starting relationships. But as the summer approaches, how does one know if the relationship is worth pursuing beyond May?
   

Second-year student Shane Young had a couple of relationships in the last two years. He said when it’s time to decide whether to stay together in the summer, it all depends on the strength of the bond.
   

“When I date someone, regardless of whether we met at school or not, I really have a strong connection with them,” said Young. “Why wouldn’t I put the effort in to keeping that going? I also find relationships can be more fun in the summer because there are more things you can do. If I had a good time with the girl during the school year, then the summer would be even better.”
   

The Keswick, ON native said Humber has given him many ways to meet new people, citing Caps and HSF events as being fantastic social outlets. But he said you can’t rely on hanging out with your partner at big events to test the validity of a relationship.

    “To find out if you really click with someone, I think it’s important to go on dates off-campus,” said Young. “Setting time aside to go on dates in the city let’s you know where you’re at. Then when the summer rolls around, you’ll think back to those times and ask yourself if you want to keep it going. Caps pub night isn’t the best way to see how well you get along with someone.”

    The ability to sustain a relationship throughout the summer months depends on more than pure will, particularly if both people come to school from out-of-town.

    Third-year automation robotics student Riley Mor was in a relationship last year but ended it as the summer was approaching. He said the traveling needed to spend time with his partner would have been an unnecessary stress.

    “Even though we really liked each other, I would have been too busy to make it work,” said Mor. “She lived in Northern Ontario, and with work and playing on a soccer team, it would have been too stressful to find time to drive up there.”

    Although he is confident he made the right decision, Mor stressed that there is no clear answer as to whether or not a relationship is worth pursuing past the end of term.

    “It’s a personal thing,” said Mor. “If you’re going to be in separate cities, but you think you can handle the distance, then that’s great. I just knew I couldn’t. I also think that if you met the person at Humber, it’s important to have a bond that goes beyond Humber. Otherwise, it probably won’t work, it’ll just be a fling.”