“He loves me, he loves me not” does not seem to be the only problem anymore. From DTR (define the relationship) talks to having different love languages, relationships can often be one of the most important yet complicated things to deal with. Fortunately, Hannah Parmelee, the director of the Relationships IQ program, is available every week to assist students with any issues in their personal relationships.
Every Monday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Relationships @ 2 is a time for students to talk about any questions, large or small, they might have about the interactions between students, parents, faculty, loved-ones and God. Issues facing romantic relationships can range from the very start of liking someone to what to do when dealing with a break-up.
“It goes all over,” Parmelee said. “Sometimes it’s, ‘I really like this person. I don’t know how to start something with them.’ Sometimes for dating relationships it’s for people that are dating that are having some conflicts or one of them is not sure if they want to be in the relationship. Sometimes people have just broken up so they are trying to figure out O.K. what do I do now.”
Parmelee points out that not all relationships problems are romantic, though. It can also be an issue in a relationship with suitemates or other students.
“You can come just as in individual, or students come as a group. It can be friends or roommates or a whole suite [who want to] come [talk] together,” Parmelee said.
Parmelee is also open to talk about the difficulties undergrads have with their parents as their relationships develop during college years.
“We talk a lot about transitioning that relationship with your parents and your becoming an adult and setting up good patterns that are different from high school patterns when you go back home,” she said.
Lastly, a student’s relationship with God is one that Parmelee makes sure to embed in all the relationship advice that she gives.
“I talk a lot about your relationship with God and how your relationship with each other, how well you interact with people or how you treat each other really shapes a lot of your view about God in your relationship with God,” Parmelee said. “And your family of origin shapes a lot of how you see God and who God is. We talk about the importance of how we love God and how we love each other.”
For students who prefer a more private setting, Parmelee is available at her office in Drescher (with a comfortable, overstuffed couch). She also leads club convos (“How to Date the Best” and “The Dating Dialogue”) for students who would like to learn more about how to communicate successfully and create a healthy roadmap for relationships.
Besides these weekly talks, Relationship Week is coming up, when there will be a booth by The Rock for Valentine’s Day grams and healthy dating advice.
