College is one of the most opportune times for personal growth and discovery. This self-discovery can come from academics, participating in extra-curricular activities, making friends and by becoming sexually aware. Most universities harbor open-minded attitudes towards atypical ways of life. For many people, living on and experiencing the full scope of a college campus means being introduced to ways of life one may have not been privy to before; college is a culture shock.
Personally, I’ve come to meet many more individuals who are part of the LGBT community than I’ve met before. I’ve also met people who practice polyamory, and I’ve gotten used to being around others who hold many different attitudes towards sex and relationships than myself.
Some might say that the most important part of college is partying. Whether that be through using drugs, drinking or having a fair amount of sex with multiple partners without being in a relationship, supporters of this lifestyle cite the fun and excitement that come along with it as reason enough for practicing such a lifestyle. A person shouldn’t be judged for having sex, it’s a natural inclination for humans. It’s fun, and it feels good. Sex sells for a reason.
Having a lot of sex is no indication of whether or not a person is good or bad or that he or she performs poorly academically. Permitting the parties involved have consent, aren’t cheating and being safe, then who cares what they do? A particular lifestyle may suit one person more than another. Lifestyles aren’t uniform, so they shouldn’t be treated as such.
Conversely, someone who abstains from any sort of sexual activity isn’t a bad person either. Certainly, it is fairly uncommon (or at least it seems to be the case) for someone to practice celibacy at his or her own volition; the decision should still be respected. Perhaps the celibate person is waiting to meet someone worth sharing such a wonderful experience with, maybe he or she experienced a traumatic sexual experience and is more comfortable not being sexually active, maybe he or she is afraid of contracting STD’s, or even may be too busy to worry about sex or even having a relationship.
Relationships are also subject to criticism from fellow students. College may be time for someone to explore their sexuality, but for another, it may be a great time to grow with another person and fall in love. As we become adults, we take on responsibilities and forge our own lives, why should someone be made fun of for sharing a life with someone special? Whether it’s long-term and someone gets teased for only having sex with one person, or long-distance with someone being teased for putting too much effort into something that may not work out, a person should be able to make his or her own choices. People need to be encouraged to pursue whatever keeps them happy and healthy.
