On Being a College Newlywed

Cassidy D’Angelo and her new husband, Tyler.

Photo By Amber Jesse.

Many people’s favorite question to ask after they find out I just got married is, “Does it feel any different than before?” The answer isn’t a simple yes or no.

    There is an obvious difference in the way we feel about each other now, as opposed to when we were not married; however, it almost doesn’t feel real until someone asks about it. My life has changed, but it has been for the better. It can be something as simple as hanging out with friends or meeting new single people. Things are different between us because we have different priorities and outlooks on life now. It seems a popular single person mentality is just focusing on themselves, which isn’t a bad thing. It’s almost necessary for someone to do before they get serious with another person. Now, it just makes me realize that it isn’t just about me anymore, but it’s about my husband and I, and our life together. We do what we do in life for each other, because we’re a team.

    Although we have a deeper responsibility for each other now, we will always have people who doubt us. Being a newlywed in college is almost considered a negative stigma nowadays. It may be due to people who thought we were too young or too immature, but I’m thankful I don’t have to do this whole college thing alone. When I am stressed or crying because I have four tests in one week, I know I have someone I can depend on that will be there to help me through it. When he is stressed or crying because he feels like he can’t get through his homework or he forgot to do an assignment, he knows he has someone that will be there for him and help him through it. He helps me strive to be a better person and makes me realize there isn’t anything that I can’t do. If I fail a test or do poorly on an assignment, I have someone to pick me back up and tell me that I can do it. If anything, being a newlywed in college has given me an upper-hand. We’re going through the same hardships together, which will only bring us closer and make our relationship stronger. 

    Even though I really don’t have an answer for people when they ask if I feel different, I know it was the best decision that we could have made. When thinking back on the last four years of our relationship, I realized how much we grew together. Although we have always had a strong relationship, marriage has seemed to change us and our commitment. It’s so easy to say how much you love someone and how much you care for them, but it is much harder to show them. Marriage is definitely not what I saw myself doing when I was only twenty years old, but I am so glad that we decided it was right for us. It has truly made us better people.