The Tea on Relationships

Author: Catie & Madeleine
Posted on September 20, 2020

Listen, we know you came to university with excitement to meet people and perhaps an underlying desire to meet “the one”. You’ve had a vision in your head of bumping into someone on the first day, locking eyes and riding into the sunset together. Don’t lie to yourself, we’ve all been there. You might even have your hopes up because your parents were university sweethearts and you want to follow in their footsteps. Well girlie, that just might not happen and it’s better to accept it now rather than later. We’re here to inform you not to race to find your soulmate and not to get discouraged, he or she simply might not be here at Mount Allison and that’s okay. Do not despair, the truth is you just might be better off without him or her for the time being. This is a period of growth and you don’t want to waste it chasing after Johnny from the football team. Trust us, it’s not any fun pretending you know how football works. We’ve written the following list to help you better understand. 

Also, we don’t think this list is biased even though we’re both single, possibly bitter, seniors. There’s just no way to know.

THE GENDER RATIO

MacLean’s magazine ranks us routinely as the number one undergrad university in the country. We gloat about this here. However, among the MacLean’s statistics is the looming male to female ratio. Here’s the deal: there are 41 males for every 59 females. Although this ratio doesn’t seem so bad on paper, the struggle becomes obvious the longer you’re here. It’s great for everyone interested in females, but for those of us who like men, eeeek. The struggle can be real. Or at least it has been for us. Not to say romance is dead, but when we do, it makes us feel better. The point? Focus on friendships, academics and meaningful memories. 

SCHOOL IS HARD

I know your high school teachers have covered this already. REPEATEDLY. Like over and over and over again. In case you drowned them out (like we did), we will say it again, university is a big adjustment. Especially at the beginning of the year when we are all just trying to get our ducks in a row (three points for a bird reference in Sackville). You really don’t want to find yourself in the honeymoon stage with your meal hall crush when your first biology midterm comes around the corner. Oof, we can hear the snapchat buzzes on your dorm room desk already. It takes time to get the right pose for your reply snap. Time you don't have right now, chickie (another three points). Let this be known too: he might want to take you on a lib date, and you might think that this is the best of both worlds. But we know the tea. You’re going to be flirting the whole time. And flirting doesn’t get you on the Dean’s List. School first, bae second, we don’t make the rules. We just want the best for you and relationships can be giant distractions. 

GETTING YOUR WEIRD OUT

Okay, first year is a time to find people you enjoy being around and who enjoy being around you. Plain and simple. Strive to be yourself (if you can figure out who that is) to ensure lasting friendships and good memories.The last thing we want you to do is alter yourself during this crucial time to attract a partner, or worse, not make memories with your new friends because you are constantly hanging out with bae. Look, we know you had all of quarantine to practice some TikTok dances. So, if you hear that TikTok song at a party, we encourage you to get weird on the dance floor. We don’t want anyone at Mount Allison to dim their light because they’re afraid of what someone might think. If you do, you might just miss out on iconic moments that can start friendships, like you rapping that full Nicki Minaj verse only to find another Nicki stan who belts the hook. Those moments are the building blocks of lasting friendships, so don’t miss out by trying to impress someone who’s never listened to Pink Friday.

MEET THE PARENTS

A moment of silence for our fall reading week. We still need to talk about these types of breaks, though. Most people go home during them. Here’s the thing, we don’t want you going to the wrong home. If you’re coupled up, these breaks can sometimes mean an invitation to spend your precious time with your new bae’s family rather than relaxing at home with your family or friends. Sometimes, for the whole week! Imagine that. Meeting your significant other's family can be stressful and we don’t want you to have to face that when these moments are supposed to be for relaxation. If you had to pick, would you want to be eating a homemade casserole at a formal dinner with bae’s family, or catching up with hometown friends over some wine? Choose wisely. 

Disclaimer: since we have never done this ourselves, this depiction may not be accurate. Are we just jealous? There’s just no way to know. 

OVERLY SENTIMENTAL CLOSING NOTE

On a really wholesome note, there are so many friendships and memories to be made at Mount Allison. You want to be creating lasting connections while feeling out who you vibe with. We also just want you to look back on your years here at Mount Allison and remember the fun times you had with friends instead of risking wasting your whole time here worried about someone else. We just don’t want to see you missing out by being glued to bae’s side at every event. Obviously, relationships are not always bad. The point is: don’t chase them. Don’t waste some of the best years of your life hoping that something will happen because it might not.

Pretty please, just have fun :)