By Emma Zaremba
Features Assignment Editor
Those first-date butterflies are the worst. Not knowing what to expect can send a person into panic mode.
St. Bonaventure students shared their dating fears as well as choice bits of advice to help alleviate the pressure associated with first dates.
Some students noted what makes them nervous when preparing for a first date and suggested what guys should do to de-stress the situation for girls.
Junior journalism and mass communication major Maggie Kiernan said she fears losing what makes her unique when she is trying to impress a guy.
“On a first date, I am extremely nervous in all aspects,” Kiernan said. “I am definitely the most nervous that I will not be myself because I have a habit of talking way too much and letting my nerves get the best of me.”
Kiernan said it would be wise for a guy to keep it simple.
“If I were to give advice to a guy for a first date, I would tell him to plan an extremely low-key date,” Kiernan said. “There is a ton of hype about a first date, so the less stress placed on it, the more relaxed both the guy and girl would be.”
Max Sinicki, a junior management major, reflected on the difficulties of going on a first date in college.
“In a college atmosphere, nine times out of 10 you’re from a different place than the person you’re on a date with, so figuring out where they are coming from can make it hard,” Sinicki said. “On a first date, you don’t want to say something that they might take offense to.”
Going on a first date is often exciting because you never know where it will lead, according to Sinicki.
He also said staying genuine is extremely important when trying to impress a girl.
“I think the most important thing for guys to do on a first date is be themselves,” Sinicki said. “Girls are going to see right through you if you try to be someone else.”
Aside from remaining true to yourself, knowing the right amount of information to share can make or break you.
“Make sure you don’t turn into a detective by trying to figure out their life story on a date, but also don’t pour your heart out to a girl because they will just find you to be a sob story,” Sinicki said. “If you have ever seen ‘How I Met Your Mother,’ you (know you) should never say ‘I love you’ on the first date.”
Junior journalism and mass communication major Margaret McDonald thinks back to her college dating experiences and what typically made her anxious.
“Normally, I get nervous if the person is older than me or if I don’t really know them that well,” McDonald said. “Otherwise, I would like to think I am calm and collected.”
McDonald agreed with Sinicki’s point that guys shouldn’t share too much information on a first date because information overload will likely freak out a potential romantic interest. She also shared a few other pieces of dating advice for the men.
“Always act like a gentleman, use your manners, be the transportation and never make a girl feel like she has to do all the work,” McDonald said. “Simply be nice, don’t act like a jerk or even try to be cool, because that’s the biggest turn-off ever.”
Justin Brozick, a senior accounting major, finds a lack of words can be the demise of a date.
“Not knowing what to expect from the other person or wondering if the person is dying for the date to end makes me nervous,” Brozick said. “So does the possibility of running out of things to say and sitting there silent.”
Brozick advises girls to stay calm and feel comfortable sharing information, because the outcome of a rough first date isn’t too awful.
“The more nervous you are, the more nervous he might feel, so be talkative and he will be more comfortable,” Brozick said. “Talk about things that make you the person you are, because the worst thing that can happen is you won’t go on another date. There are a lot of fish in the sea.”
