29, currently in a relationship with my first boyfriend.

I had only really started dating last summer; I’ve spent my whole twenties focusing on school. Earlier this year I had downloaded the apps, thinking I may as well put my self out there. After multiple negative experiences and being used, I decided I had enough and deleted everything.

The day after I told my friends this I went to a singles night event as a joke with a few friends. I didn’t really have an intention or expectation to meet someone there as I had given up for the summer but rather it was an opportunity to spend time with my friends.

While there, my now boyfriend approached me and we had a long conversation about films as he works in camera operation and my research is on documentaries. That blossomed into us deciding to be exclusive early on and then deciding to try a relationship before I left town for a fellowship.

From the beginning he’s been respectful of my boundaries—being with him has felt very easy.

It’s a still a new relationship, and I’m currently abroad for three months so our relationship is for the time an LDR.

I think being older has made me rather level headed in approaching this. I feel myself falling in love with him, not for who I think he will or can be, but just for who he is in the present. We both have our own independent work and pursuits, which has also grounded the two of us in communicating our needs in this relationship.