East Carolinian

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Somewhere in your house I'm sure you have a collection of old love letters, pictures, cards, stuffed animals and movie stubs from your first love. Diane Ackerman once said, "Everyone admits that love is wonderful and necessary, yet no one agrees on just what it is." Young love seems to be sweet, innocent and carefree. Everyone's first love began with butterflies in their stomach, nervous laughs, being passionate about everything and thinking that he or she was "the one."

Remembering your first love is intensely, keenly, and maybe even sadly something you will never forget. It's the first taste of what you believe is "true love." He or she was the one and only person who could make or break your world. It was the first time you opened your life, heart and soul to another person and trusted them not to hurt you. That's a huge step in the relationship world. When you look through old things, hear certain songs or one day cross paths with your old flame your heart will race and your emotions will still get the best of you. There's always that one guy or girl who captured your heart and will never be forgotten. Whether he or she is still in your life or just a heartache memory, that person will always hold a special place in your heart.

Katherine Stewart, sophomore multidisciplinary studies major, said, "I remember my first love, just like it was yesterday. We wanted to come to college together, get married and live happily ever after. Reality set in and he moved states away for a big job promotion. I chose to stay here in Greenville and finish my education. After he left, my heart fell apart."

Our first loves taught us the good, the bad and the ugly. After the "lovey dovey" stage passed, the disagreements came. The once perfect love didn't seem so perfect any longer. Young and na�ve, some people stuck through it and tried to make it last as long as possible, while others just took the heartache and learned from it. Two young people who believe they are in love endure experiences and learn lessons that will hopefully last a lifetime. Having a first sweetheart is a warm feeling, but thinking about the downs of the relationship can bring much pain to one's soul.

Dennis Duffy, sophomore Communication major, said, "My girlfriend and I were passionate about everything - loving and fighting with each other as well as hurting each other with jealousy and greed."

Just like Noah and Allie from The Notebook or Cinderella and her Prince Charming, it's likely that later in life you will see each other again. When you are least expecting it, you will see the person you once thought was your "soul mate." Of course over time the both of you have let go of the past, but everyone knows that the spark remains. No one makes you feel the way your first real love did.

Catherine Smith, sophomore English major, said, "It's been two years since I was with my first love, but when I ran into him over Christmas Break, I was almost speechless. He was the first person to really break my heart but deep down I'll always love him."

Most of the time a first love teaches us things, not saying that everyone wanted to learn all of them, especially the hard way. But the lessons that were taught and the experiences that all of us went through were just part of growing up and becoming wiser about oneself and the way we create and don't create relationships with others. Without mistakes, confrontations and heartache, lessons will not be learned. You grow through these changes and although at the time it killed you inside, you are now a stronger person because of them. You can now look back on how trivial the fights were, how insignificant it was that another guy or girl was trying to talk to your lover and how materialistic stuff doesn't really mean everything. Even though not many people can really decide what love is, keep in mind that love is not a thing; it's a feeling.

I believe Helen Keller best sums it up for us by believing that "the best and most beautiful things in the world can not be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart."

It's great to reminisce and keep little things as memories, but remember to look forward and know what's going on in your life now. The past can sometimes get us down, but the first is always the worse. Life is full of changes, heartache, disappointment, good times and bad times.

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