Editor #21
Hopeless in California, you seem like a rational, goal-oriented individual; I have just unraveled the fabric of your personality like a daily horoscope reading. You clearly implied that you are thinking about the future of your (possible) relationship with this amazing guy. You want structure and order in your life; you want the security of knowing that your relationship will be fulfilling and will last many months, years or even a lifetime.
It is very conscientious of you to plan out your love life in relation to your academic career. It is absolutely reasonable to think that committing to a relationship now would be pointless. Couples that find each other in their senior year usually end their relationships once summer arrives. You don’t want to be bothered with the hassle of falling in love and beginning a relationship now only to break it off within a few months and possibly go your separate ways forever.
The best way to fall out of love is to let time work its magic. That’s probably not the answer you want to hear. Unfortunately, there are no five easy Cosmopolitan steps or a 14-day love detox. This guy may be the only thing on your mind for a while, but try to occupy yourself with other activities, such as hanging out with friends, reading, exercising etc.
Now I would like to ask you a question: why do you think that you do not deserve love? Do you see love as a breach in strong, independent character? True, falling in love does put you in a vulnerable position. Your body pumps dopamine throughout your bloodstream, you feel as if you want to spend every waking minute with your guy and suddenly you believe that you can trust him with anything. Your emotional guard is completely down; you’re a prized tiger hunted by a poacher—your ethereal happiness could end at any moment. But what do you care? You’re in love.
Life rarely works out how we plan for it to be. It’s best not to establish great expectations (“I will not fall in love during my senior year!”), because they are guaranteed to fail. If you feel like falling in love, just do it. There’s no rule that a relationship must last for months and months in order for it to be meaningful. Enjoy the time that you and your guy have together now.