Sharon and I met in freshman year, in our college and career class. I don’t think I really met (interacted) with her till October of that year, though. When I met her, she definitely seemed to make herself look intentionally cool and mysterious. It worked on me. I maintain that I liked Sharon since about a month after I met her, yet she ceases to believe me. We shared a lot of similar interests and she was very nice to everyone, which, especially at a young age, is very admirable.
Sharon definitely made the first move (and I know in her part she’s really flexing that so I will let her have it), and it was really exciting. I genuinely believed she had zero interest in me, so it was a nice surprise. I think we had both been planning on taking some sort of step towards dating for a while, so I think I would have made a move shortly after.
A big reason I feel like our relationship has lasted so long is a mutual appreciation for each other, and our difference in opinions and decisions. It’s important for the other person to understand that you love them no matter their beliefs. I know that I’m very fortunate and very appreciative of Sharon’s support of me throughout high school, and into the future. Pursuing a career in art is far from secure, and she has never lost faith in my ability to find success within my field.
Adversity happens in any relationship, ours included. I think that any time we’re apart for an extended period of time, there is definitely a lot of tension, but we have trust in each other and get through it. The best thing to do, in my opinion, is to address it before it becomes an argument. If you are both open with your feelings about an issue, it becomes much easier to find a resolution. Oftentimes, the problem is much closer to being solved than you may think.
Sharon is always able to make me smile by showing a genuine interest in things that interest me. Her attentiveness gives me a special place to talk about those things that bring me joy. I really like movies, and I think that sometimes it can be annoying to hear someone talk in length about something that’s pretty niche, but she listens. One thing that helps me to know that our relationship is strong is how well we know each other, just in everyday scenarios, understanding what each other likes and dislikes. I am able to express my feelings with Sharon openly, and I always prefer to do so in person, at least as much as possible. It makes the experience feel much more genuine.
Obviously college is a huge step in an uncertain direction in any relationship, but I think if both people take a serious step forward in promising to keep in touch and respecting each other’s boundaries, any relationship has a good chance of lasting. It’s good to know that both of us will be in Los Angeles, so we can keep in close contact and see each other often. I will say, we’re in an advantageous position, being that both of our colleges are in Los Angeles, it definitely will be easy to drive to and from each other’s campuses when we have time.
