Marriage do’s, don’ts — what’s to say when it’s right

Sex in the Suburbs

Ladies have seen them all. We live with them or sit next to them in class. We either envy them or couldn’t care less. They are the girls who are either lucky enough — or unlucky enough, depending on your view of the situation — to have found a man that has already popped the question. These women have found the few men on campus who are not afraid of commitment.

What is the big deal with girls getting engaged while still in college? Society has pushed the acceptable "marrying age" for women back a number of years, but there still are some of us engaged and in college.

"Being engaged in college is a part of my life, and I do not see it as limiting in any way, as many people who are not engaged do," junior Emily Hynes said. "I will still go to graduate school, travel and do anything I choose to do after college. I am just fortunate enough to have my fiancé by my side in the process."

Hynes and her fiancé, who is in the Air Force, have been together for four and a half years and engaged for two years.

Megan Voss has been engaged since Dec. 21 and has been with her fiancé for almost two years.

"To me, it is no different than being a single college student," Voss said. "You receive congratulations from people, and then life moves in. Your priority is still to finish school, but you now have to do it and prepare your relationship for marriage. We are taking pre-marital classes to help with this big transition."

Voss said she, too, receives negative comments from people when they find out she is engaged.

"People, usually acquaintances, are surprised that I am getting married so early," Voss said. "That is the only thing that is slightly hard about being engaged in college. The point is that while the world says for you to date around until you are in your late 20s, early 30s or else you’re missing out. This is not how it has to be. Why waste time with someone [else], experiencing something that you won’t be able to recall with your future significant other, the one person you will be with ’til you die?"

While some girls are busy planning their weddings, not everyone is ready to jump on the marriage boat.

"I think it’s ridiculous, freshman Sarah Bordeaux said. "It’s too soon [to get engaged] when too many things are changing in your life. Why not wait ’til after college?"