What’s time got to do with it? Knowing when to leave a relationship

Dominique Burns | Staff Writer

Meeting someone for the first time and making it past the friendship stage is a process no one wants to start over. Let’s face it, once you think you’ve found the one, there’s no opinion that can change that. However if you find yourself feeling like you’re fighting for your relationship more than enjoying it, is it really worth staying?

Nikki Miller, a senior, biology major from Raleigh, North Carolina said, “People stay in relationships longer than needed because they are scared of change. But something that people need to realize is if the relationship isn’t building or helping you towards a goal, it’s essentially toxic.”

Toxic relationships are something people want to stay away from, but keep finding themselves in. When it comes to friendships, it can be easy to just let go and leave the negativity behind, but a first love can be a little harder to just let go.

James Benbow III, a junior, architecture major from Washington, D.C. explained how social situations shape the way people deal with relationships.

“In today’s society people fear being viewed as un-loyal so they’ll stay with their partner no matter what the circumstance or how long just so they don’t get labeled as otherwise. People don’t like getting to know a whole new person. They’ll avoid it and stick to what they know.”

Is sticking to what you know worth your happiness?

Tionne Lemmon, a junior, English major from Northern Virginia said, “I feel like people love with time because they’ve been through a lot with their partner and feel like they can eventually get through it. Because of that, they don’t realize how toxic it is for their relationship.”

Settling isn’t worth the love you think you’re getting. Sometimes people confuse being in a situationship for a long period of time with love. Don’t sacrifice your time for what feels like affection and the fear of having to rebuild a relationship from the ground up with another person. Time does not replace self worth, happiness and genuine love. Don’t treat yourself like a substitute.