Were you at one time not allowed to date because of studying/academic reasons -- or did you know anyone who was?

Some of us guys such as myself once tried asking out many potential girlfriends but actually dated only a few.

I remember once I had a crush on a girl who seemed quite shy as I myself was—and I told a friend of mine who happened to be this girl’s partner in a chemistry class. Needless to say, the friend told this girl of my feelings for her, against my wishes but for my benefit.

Surprisingly the girl was very nice and a little surprised but told my friend that she was not allowed to date anyone or didn’t want to date anyone until she finished high school or some other academic goal she had.

It really wasn’t the last time, either. I was interested in another girl once who expressed something similar. Several years later she was dating someone in college, however— a guy weirder than me, so I assume it wasn’t rejection.

As time goes by, and I am middle-aged, I wonder if this wasn’t just a nice way to turn me down because she just wasn’t into me. These girls from my past both eventually married, but didn’t date in high school—and both did very well in high school and college as far as grades and awards went.

Ah, just bittersweet nostalgia…