“I have a boyfriend.”
Those four words are something I haven’t said in awhile — two years, to be exact.
As someone who comes from a small town where dating opportunities for a young gay man were slim, dating in high school was not very easy for me. Sure, I had my share of short-lived and sometimes awkward romances. But until this year, I’ve never really known what I wanted in relationships.
To make matters worse for my dating life, the majority of my college career so far has been dedicated to everything else besides finding love — school, waiting tables at various restaurants, The Daily Collegian and the LGBTA student groups on campus.
As a person who likes to keep busy and never slow down for anything, I have never really had time to really focus on and pursue any kind of romantic interests.
But this year, I made a promise to myself that I would slow down and make time for myself, as well as other people.
And when I arrived at a party on that October night, it just so happened that I would get up the courage to finally ask a guy — who would eventually become my boyfriend — on a first date.
I was so nervous for that first date that I arrived 20 minutes early to Chili’s and drank four glasses of mango iced tea by the time he arrived.
A fantastic meal and a viewing of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” at my apartment later, I knew that dating him was going to be potentially the best thing to happen to me since I started at Penn State — outside of joining the Collegian staff, of course.
And as time goes on, he continues to prove how true that statement is. His outgoing and sometimes outrageous personality meshes perfectly with my more reserved and shy disposition. He is patient with me when it comes to aspects of dating because he knows that I’ve only had a few relationships before him. I’m a little rusty at this whole thing.
When I’ve complained about being single in the past, people have always told me good things will come to those who wait.
And boy, were they right.
Considering that we both had feelings for each other for the past year unbeknownst to the other person, it almost seems worth it now that we didn’t pursue each other until now.
I know what I am about to say will potentially be the cheesiest thing you will read in this column, but I’m going to say it anyway: I have never felt this connected to a person in my life.
I am nowhere near ready to say those three little words to him yet — but to be honest, it’s almost slipped out to him so many times. Love is such as small word, but can create such a scary feeling when sandwiched between the words “I” and “you.”
But sometimes you have to take that chance, dive headfirst into the ocean of romance and find yourself a different — but better — person when you come out.
I have found myself much happier since I started dating him nearly two months ago — and that’s all thanks to the best boyfriend at Penn State.
Joshua Glossner is a junior majoring in print journalism and is the Collegian’s universal copy desk co-chief. Email him at jdg5299@psu.edu.
