By Ryanne Czarina Villegas
“Good morning, love.”
“Let’s study together?”
“Ta, kaon ta aron dili ka ma-stress.” (Let’s go eat together to relieve your stress.)
For many Sillimanians, college isn’t just about maintaining grades—it’s also about navigating relationships alongside it. Falling in love can be easy, but balancing it with a 20-page thesis, a 2-page essay, and 3 org meetings? Now that’s a challenge.
We’ve all seen them: couples having picnics at the amphitheater, studying together in the library, or simply just walking hand-in-hand along Lover’s Lane. Anywhere you go, there’s always gonna be at least one couple in the vicinity. One can even say that Silliman University is one of the most romantic places to complete your studies in.
But sometimes, you just can’t help but wonder, behind all the study sessions and coffee dates, is it really possible to maintain a healthy relationship on top of their academic responsibilities? On top of being an org member, a scholar, an athlete, or a student leader?
For many, the answer would be a confident “yes.” They would say that being in a relationship gives them strength—a breath of relief, a “pahinga.” A simple “Good morning,” “Nikaon na ka, love?” or just a hug after a long day. Even just a smile from a significant other is comforting enough for them.
They would say that being in a relationship is having someone to offer emotional support and motivation, especially during stressful weeks. Someone to rant to after a long lecture, or someone to study with to prepare for a quiz. Just someone to share the campus life with—the cries, the laughs, and everything in between.
They are the ones who believe that if love is rooted in mutual respect, independence, trust, and a whole lot of communication, it doesn’t have to get in the way of success—it can walk alongside it.
However, there are also some that will say no. Those who swear off love after being burned many times already. Others who find that romantic relations, added to a busy schedule, just bring more problems to tend to.
Conflicting schedules, misunderstandings, and the pressure to prioritize one over the other. For them, a relationship can sometimes be an additional stressor. Especially when both parties are trying to meet different deadlines, attend different classes, or belong to separate circles.
The parallel is that while those who say yes get motivated by their partners during stressful weeks, those who say otherwise get more drained instead.
Now, here comes the question of boundaries.
When does a supportive relationship become distracting? When do weekend dates take over study time? And how does one find the balance between being a good partner and a responsible student?
What becomes clear, though, is that there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Love in college is what you make of it. Whether it strengthens you, teaches you, burns you, or distracts you. Maybe you don’t even care to involve yourself in love at all and you decide to wait until after graduation.
All your choices are valid. Your own timing for love will be right for you. After all, Silliman isn’t just an academic institution, it’s also a place where people grow. And growth looks different for everybody—especially in matters between the heart and the head.
But what do you think? Amidst dates and deadlines, can you really balance love and academics in Silliman University?
