Dear Garrett (May 5, 2013)
Dear Garrett,
I know this sounds cliché, but I feel like I’ll never find the right guy! I barely dated anyone in high school, so I just thought college would be my chance. After a string of failed encounters, I’m in the same place I started from. To make matters worse, I feel like everyone I meet on our small campus is either in a relationship, not interested or has me firmly placed in the friend zone. I don’t know what isn’t working… is it me? I almost feel like there’s some secret thing that all my non-single friends are doing that I’m not. And, because I’m always fretting over this, I’ve become very critical of people with boyfriends. Like, “But she’s more annoying than me. She’s not attractive. She’s not smart.” Obviously, this is rude and unhealthy, even if I’m just keeping the thoughts to myself! Is there anything I can do besides keepin’ on truckin’ or flat out giving up?
Sincerely,
Forever Alone
Dear Forever Alone,
I feel as you are worrying too much over this issue. Are you truly trying to discover your soul mate right now? You have your entire life ahead of you, and, honestly, your time at Maryville College is only the beginning of it. There is no rush to find a significant other, and there is nothing wrong with not dating that much in college.
As you have already mentioned, we have a small campus. What does that mean? There are very few datable options. Also, the fact that our student body is comprised of more females than males makes it even more difficult for the ladies. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have seen an MC girl with an MC guy who she is simply too wonderful and pretty for, but he gets away with treating her horribly because she doesn’t have other options. I mean, honestly, do you want that to be you? Basically, pickings are slim at Maryville College, so, logically, not everyone will have a boyfriend or girlfriend within our small campus environment. That’s just the reality of the matter.
The best advice I can give you is to not worry about it. Once you graduate from MC, you will have the entire world before you. The world just so happens to have quite a few human beings, and that means that you will have endless choices. As for those bitter feelings you seem to have, well, those are completely normal. That is the typical single person mentality, and I do not believe there is any advice I can give you to stop those feelings. You should simply embrace them by deciding that you are better than all those who have relationships and that you are simply too good for the slim pickings on campus. I promise that will be a definite confidence booster for you.
Sincerely,
Garrett
Dear Garrett,
I am on a really tight budget this year. Despite the fact that I have three part-time jobs, I still find myself low on cash. This is a common problem for many college students, but, for me, this is torture. I love food. I love visiting restaurants, I love trying new things. My lack of cash limits me from enjoying these experiences. Any ideas about how I can go about still eating well without breaking the bank?
P.S. Don’t suggest sucking it up and going to Pearson’s all the time, because that won’t work.
Sincerely,
Hopeless Epicure
Dear Hopeless Epicure,
We have something in common. I love food, and delicious unique food to be specific. Of course, we all have the problem of being poor college students, unless you are one of those few that have their mommy and daddy pay for everything. However, I have good news for you. It is possible to still enjoy delicious food on a budget, because I do it all the time.
My advice is rather simple and comes in two parts. The first suggestion I can make is that you should try cooking for yourself. It will be expensive at first as you stock up on different ingredients that a typical kitchen would already have, but you will soon have a well-stocked kitchen and be capable of producing delicious meals. Do you not know how to cook? Then this will be a fun learning experience at the same time. It’s budget friendly, and you will learn a new skill.
My second suggestion is to watch for coupons. No, I do not necessarily mean those you find in the Sunday newspaper. Websites and smart phone apps like Groupon and Living Social are great tools for foodies. I know that many of the delicious restaurants in downtown Knoxville often will have different offers on these two sources. This makes dining there rather affordable. Also, in general, some of the locally owned restaurants in the area are not too expensive, so you should try different ones out and discover the ones that fit your budget.
I hope this advice helps. Good luck on your foodie adventures!
Sincerely,
Garrett