Chapman declassified: student’s dating survival guide

Students discuss their fairytale endings as well as heartache disasters when it comes to dating at Chapman. Illustration by WYATT LINCOLN, illustrator

Sometimes love hurts, in both good ways and bad. After Britney Black’s crush on Blake Yasui manifested into a date after matching on a dating app, she anxiously gnawed on the inside of her lip the entire way to meet him. A tiny bit of blood is a small price to pay for romantic bliss, as that first date turned into many more. The duo, both 2022 alumni who graduated with degrees in business administration, have now been together over a year. 

“We went to Korean BBQ, ate some yummy food, had a drink and talked and talked,” Yasui said. "Nothing too crazy, (we) just shared a meal while getting to know each other. Then we watched the TV sensation at the time, ‘Squid Game.'"

Britney Black and Blake Yasui met at Chapman and graduated in 2022. Photo courtesy of Blake Yasui

Although Black and Yasui were able to find their happily ever after, sometimes it’s not as easy as just grabbing your favorite meal and watching a viral show for sparks to fly. The Panther set out to discover what the key to finding love on campus and how to survive the dating scene at Chapman University. 

Sophomore dance and communication studies double major Chloe Libert told The Panther she is a firm believer that dating at Chapman is different from other schools. She claims the main reason is the small undergraduate size, making it nearly impossible to not run into an ex-fling. 

“Sometimes you might try to date someone out of convenience and also people might be more scared to date because you will have to see them on campus all the time,” Libert said. “That can be awkward.” 

Even with the possibility of bumping into a crush, or worse an ex, while on a walk to Beckman, Libert said the most challenging aspect is differentiating dating in high school versus college. Libert said in her case, it got easier once she parted from her hometown. 

“I think that my relationships in high school felt more juvenile than college,” Libert said. “I have more independence, as well as my partners, and they have been able to take me out on dates and vice versa. I think being at college has that extra level of independence and maturity.” 

Luckily for junior screenwriting major Hana Abiog, finding her partner wasn’t a matter of swiping on apps or being set up on dates. Abiog and her boyfriend, senior screenwriting major Noah Campos, met in a screenwriting class last year. Sometimes meeting your future partner is easy; it’s as simple as flipping a page. 

“He gave me a book (after we first met), and then I kind of had a crush on him from that,” Abiog said. “Yeah, I think I kind of went after him. And after three months, we started going out.”

Love is often referred to as magical, but sometimes it can feel a little impossible waiting for that special person to appear. Abiog offered their advice on how to start the first conversation.

“I would say start off in your class and just try to be friends with them first because everyone is always charming in the beginning,” Abiog said. “So after you get to know them a bit more and if you have feelings, just go for it. Don't be shy.”

Abiog and Campos are coming up on their 500 day anniversary, which they are looking forward to celebrating with their usual celebratory traditions. 

"We're really big into Build-A-Bear frogs,” Abiog said. “So I probably have like four frogs. And on Valentine's Day, I got him his own pink frog. So when we have any event or any special day, we get each other a frog.”

Hana Abiog and Noah Campos met in a screenwriting class last year. Photo courtesy of Hanah Abiog

For junior creative producing major Katie Albright, her fortune in the dating department has consisted of failed “situationships” and talking stages, as well as ruined movies after an awful movie-watching date.

But Albright’s most unfortunate dating memory comes from her freshman year living in the dorms. With the song “Mastermind” by Taylor Swift as her inspiration, she landed herself some one-on-one time with the guy she had been crushing on.

“We ended up kissing, and if I'm being honest, he was such a bad kisser,” Albright said. “I did not realize that bad kissers existed but genuinely like he went from a nine to like a four.”

Although Libert has recently been deciding to focus on building her relationship with herself, it only came after a bad dating experience at Chapman. Five months into a situationship, Libert was told by the guy she liked that he only saw her as a friend.

“He treated me like a girlfriend,” Libert said. “He came to my dance show. I was crying one night, and he came over. He would have me over all the time. All his friends knew about me. And then he introduced me to his brother and sister, and his mom knew about me. And then he just told me he didn't like me like that.”

Albright believes romance isn’t necessary, and once she realized that, her mental health improved. Even though it has been said a hundred times, she says love comes randomly.

“I want to say like when it comes to my advice I'd give to somebody, they're gonna hear this all the time, but I have always been told it's gonna happen when you least expect it,” Libert said.

Whether you’re fresh out of a relationship or finally entering the dating scene in a new city, it can be intimidating to enter the dating world. But once you dive in, Libert said the most important thing to do is make sure your intentions are clear. 

“I think the way to do it is to not have expectations and just kind of go in with an open mind but knowing what you want,” Libert said. “For me, I had a lot of trouble when I knew what I wanted, but I didn't communicate those feelings. And so I would end up in situations I didn't want to be in. So I think that communicating what you want and what your intentions are, is really important and trusting your gut.”