My name is Rob Cochran, I am 18 years old and attend Avon Grove High School. This is the hard part for me, writing my dating experiences on paper so if my thoughts don’t flow well, forgive me.

In all of my life I have had 11 girlfriends, 7 of them were the innocent 1st grade type relationship. The other 4 relationships were a bit more serious. I started seriously dating when I was 14 years old and in 8th grade. I was too young and immature to have started dating. Out of the 4 serious relationships that I have had I regret three of them.

My fist girlfriend lasted less than a month; she and I first met at the Christmas band concert in 8th grade. That was also the same night that she asked me out. The relationship started off all right, we did the normal girlfriend, boyfriend thing that 8th graders did. We went to the dances, hung out, went to the zoo, stuff like that. At the first dance that we went to she kissed me, my first kiss, which was a big surprise for me. The relationship continued at a steady pace from that point till about 3 ½ weeks into the relationship when it ended. I learned a couple things from this relationship don’t rush into a relationship, get to know the person before dating them. I regret the relationship that I had with the girl, because it was rushed, I do not regret the friendship.

My second girlfriend and I dated for nine months. She and I met because she was my ex-girlfriends friend. Whatever you guys do, do not date an ex-girlfriend’s friend. Things can get ugly. During the nine months that I dated this girl, I fell away from God. I consider this period of my life one of the darkest. I no longer focused on God’s will, I focused on her will or my own. As I fell away from God I also said that it was God’s will for us to be together, well it really wasn’t God’s will. She brought me down as a Christian and a person. I was once told that we as Christians are standing on a pedestal that represents the truth. Those who are not Christians are not on this pedestal with us they are below us. Our job as Christians is to pull them up to the truth, the only problem is that they don’t always want to hear the truth, and since gravity is working to keep them there (gravity representing sin in this case). Gravity is also working against us to pull them up or throw us down. It is easier for a Christian to fall, then for us to pull them up. This girl pulled me down when I was trying to pull her up.

About 7 months into the relationship, after she had broken me down as a Christian, she started pressuring me for sex. Somewhere there was still a part of me that was in touch with God, because I didn’t say yes. Until we broke up she continued to pressure me for sex. God remained with me through the entire relationship; it is only by the grace of God that I made it out of the relationship with my sanity, and as a virgin. God stood by me the entire time knowing that I was away from him but still loving me and waiting for me to come back to him. The lord is good, his always there waiting. This is also another relationship I regret.

My third girlfriend lasted a whole 2 and ½ years, my longest relationship. It was also the steadiest relationship I ever had. The relationship was normal, nothing really that stood out, we kept everything in focus with God. I helped to strengthen her in her faith as she helped me to become stronger as well. The relationship ended three months before I moved out to Chester County. I believe that God ended that relationship because I was digging my feet in and saying that I wanted to stay in Pittsburgh, I do not regret this relationship.

My last girlfriend was out here in New London. Within several months of me being out here I thought that I might be ready for another relationship. I was wrong, I got into a relationship when I was not ready, when I could not seek God first or commit myself to this girl as her boyfriend. Because of my idiocy I hurt this girl, I made the mistake of thinking that I (I is a keyword, I didn’t have God with me) could do this. IF she ever reads this, I am sorry that I have hurt you. I regret the fact that I got into that relationship and that I hurt the girl I don’t regret meeting her.

At this point in my life, I have thrown in the towel, I am done having girlfriends. I will still flirt and have friends that are girls; I am just not interested in a true girlfriend. My reasoning for this is there just haven’t been points in my life where I haven’t had a girlfriend. I want to spend this time to focus on God, and how to serve him best.

Temptations are many when trying not to date. I know that God will help me through all of this. Several girls have expressed that they like me and wouldn’t have a problem with going out with me. My solution to these temptations right now is a lot of prayer and when summer comes, get on my motorcycle and ride, a lot!