For this Valentine’s season, The Union asked some teachers about their first-date stories and experiences. These teachers’ stories happened during their high school and college years, with various outcomes.
Social studies teacher Riley Zea met her now-husband in college while volunteering at a plant nursery, she said. Though they didn’t exchange any phone numbers, they found their way to each other, Zea added.
“I went home and told my roommate, ‘You have to help me. I met the man I love, like I’m going to marry this man,’” Zea said. ¨My roommate found his LinkedIn, and I found his Instagram, and I messaged him. He was like, ‘Are you free tomorrow? Let’s go get dinner,’ and so we went out, literally the next day.”
Zea was nervous until her date picked her up to go get ramen in San Luis Obispo, she said. Luckily, it was an instant connection between the two of them, and they spent almost every day together afterward, Zea said.
“It was raining that day, and the wait for ramen was two hours,” Zea said. “Thank God it was a good date, because we had to talk for two hours with nothing else happening.”
Asked what advice she would give to young people about first dates, she noted that you will inevitably go on a lot of bad dates, Zea said.
“It’s not because of you; it’s just the vibes, the energy,” Zea said. “I would say, the people you can talk to really easily, automatically, that’s who you should probably be with.”
Social studies teacher Danilo Escobar went on his first ever date with his now-wife in high school, Escobar said. The two had been steadily dating, but had never gotten the chance to go out on a date alone. After getting his driver’s license and a car, he was able to take her out without their usual friend group around, he added.
“We went out to eat, and we watched a movie and that was about it,” Escobar said. “I’m sure I was ecstatic, but also nervous, because it was the first time it was just the two of us, and I was nervous about how to navigate that”
When asked about his thoughts on his first-date experience, Escobar said that he would probably just laugh about it now, he said.
“It’s kind of silly because now you just think “whatever I was worried about, it wasn’t as significant,” Escobar said. “
Asked what dating advice he would give to young people, Escobar said that he fears teenagers are too afraid to engage in relationships, he said. He encourages them to try dating and experiment with relationships, he added.
“You might get embarrassed,” Escobar said. “But that’s how you practice your social skills, and learn how to navigate through those complex situations.”
Geography and economics teacher Frank Castro recounted an unofficial first date he had gone on with a high school friend of his at a drive-in movie theater, Castro said.
“My buddy wanted to go out with a girl he was interested in, so we went to the drive-in, and I and his girlfriend’s best friend came along,” Castro said. “Me and her, we were in the back talking, laughing, being friendly, and one thing led to another, and then we kissed.”
The kiss was very spontaneous, Castro said. The pair dated for about a year before breaking up when his girlfriend went to school in San Diego, he added.
“We were friends before, and we became something more right there and then,” Castro said. “I really liked her, she was cool, fun to talk to, we always had something to talk about. I remember she was a really good girlfriend.”
It is important to have fun when dating, otherwise there’s no point, Castro said. People may stay in relationships for superficial reasons, or because of low self-esteem, even if they’re not happy, he added.
“You’re not married,” Castro said. “There are reasons why people stay in relationships even if they’re not happy, whereas you guys can just walk away. If it’s not fun anymore, get out!
The Union hopes that these stories inspire students this Valentineś day to plan good dates, and learn and enjoy from their relationships.
