Last Saturday, I attended the talk about love, relationships and dating. Like any other event of this type, there were initially waves of silence that soon went away as time passed by. The talk was interesting and I found myself thinking about it for a while.

Later that day, I found an article on The Atlantic about ‘Love in the Time of Individualism’ and thought it was very relevant to the talk. A large portion of the article was focused on the shifts in the rates of marriage and divorce. It provided a variety of explanations ranging from: shifts in dating culture to an increased sense of individualism. The more I read the article, the more I felt that there isn’t a ‘correct’ opinion about broad issues like those discussed during the talk.

Taking the issue of using dating apps, it is easy to see how one could either be comfortable or uneasy with them. Dating apps provide a great avenue of interaction for individuals who may not feel comfortable meeting other people in-person. However, the opposite is also true in that some people can find it tedious to use a dating app because of the effort required to create, curate and manage a profile.

Another issue is that of the dating culture at Cornell. Students often prioritise work over social life. In a rigorous academic environment, sometimes it can be difficult to compartmentalise work and find time for relationships. However, it is also true that in a stressful environment like Cornell, having a relationship would be a great way to manage stress.

For topics like this, there are often merits for both sides of a discussion. Everyone has different expectations, experiences and beliefs. The talk was a great way to highlight how there is really no ‘right’ answer and no ‘correct’ way to manage relationships and work. Rather, it is always important to reflect, discuss and reconsider one’s options and aspirations when dealing with dating and relationships.