Dear Queenie,
I have a very busy schedule with schoolwork and a part-time job. I have an adequate social life but nobody special.
All my friends are in serious relationships and some are even married and have started families. I'm starting to worry that I'm missing out on life and may end up an old maid if I don't find someone soon.
Queenie, what do you advise?—Feeling lonely
Dear Feeling lonely,
I advise you not to rush into anything just because all your friends are doing it. That is the worst possible reason for tying yourself down to something you may wind up regretting.
In the first place, youthful relationships often do not last. If you commit yourself to someone just for the sake of not being alone, the relationship may end in a painful break-up/divorce. Better to take it slowly and meet as many people as you can, until you find a truly compatible partner with whom you can happily spend the rest of your life. Desperation can lead one into making foolish choices.
Finally, there are worse things than being an "old maid." Being on your own gives you a chance to fully develop your own personality and abilities, without having to limit your horizons because of someone else's needs and/or expectations. And in the end, it may make you more attractive to the kind of person who can meet your needs and expectations.
