As soon as I came to New Student Orientation, becoming apart of the CBU family, I noticed the staff seemed to stress DATING, MARRIAGE, and PRO-COUPLES (if that's a word). It was kind of perturbing and strange at first simply because in high school all you here from the faculty is: "NO PDA! NO BOYFRIEND& GIRLFRIEND STUFF. NO HOLDING HANDS. DON'T SIT BY EACH OTHER." -and other demands similar to those. The dating stereotypes of being a Christian also counteracted with what I was hearing here. I don't know why I thought I was going to run into a lot of single people, but that is Far from what I observed. As school started I communicated with many girls in the dorm halls that have boyfriends who attend CBU and many of them repeated this phrase: "Yeah, I am glad me and my boyfriend go to CBU, because it's awesome that we can grow in our faith with God together." Honestly, it was kind of crazy how many times I heard that. I even heard a teacher say to a group of female students, "If you're looking for a boyfriend, there's plenty of good guys here. It's almost inevitable that you'll find your husband here." My reaction is WHAT?!! REALLY?!! In a way it was exciting to here, and many of the girls' reaction was some-what of anxiety, but I kind got thrown off because I knew that's not what I (me, myself personally) was here for. I didn't come to college looking for a spouse, I came to get my education and make new friends, grow closer to God, and have fun- it was kind of a throw off! After the first couple of weeks of school I met 2 engaged sophomores, over 35 freshman couples, and juniors/seniors?...ALL of them are dating! Hand in hand, arm in arm, lap in lap- that are the images I observed. It almost makes us few NON-dating people feel like outcast. But in a way I am kind of excited to see if I will fall under the school's curse (not in a bad way) of finding that true love. -Guess we're going to have to wait and see (=
~Cassidy
