Best and worst dates of USD

Students reflect on their own unforgettable best and worst dates 

Anna Valaik / Asst. A&C Editor

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, many people have love on their minds, whether they like it or not. In the age of dating apps, Instagram DMs, and Snapchat etiquette, the dating scene is shifting toward an online focus, which can be both a good and bad thing. Rather than official, pre-planned dates, people are having their initial introductions on their devices. When a relationship exists almost entirely over one’s phone, there is no more worrying about lettuce in their teeth or seeing friends out in public on a date, which is a relief for many. At the same time, this means no more dreamy picnics at Sunset Cliffs or adventurous hikes at Torrey Pines with a possible love interest. 

In the wake of COVID-19, people are unable to gather and have in-person interactions in hopes of meeting a partner. 

This is why The USD Vista wanted to throw it back this Valentine’s Day and highlight the special moments that come out of good dates and the funny stories we gather from the not so good ones. 

Sophomore Lulu Brotherton explained a few key things she looks for in a good date. 

“I think it’s really important to feel comfortable with the other person. The conversation should flow naturally,” Brotherton said. “On the other hand, though, I like when they are a little nervous because it shows they care about the date and want to impress you.” 

Brotherton also mentioned the importance of feeling confident in herself during a date. 

“When I feel my best, I automatically feel like the date will be ten times better,” Brotherton said. “Also, when the guy is dressed as nice as me, I feel like it shows we are both taking the date seriously and want to put our best foot forward.”

Brotherton shared some of the red flags she looks out for. 

“I hate when someone just talks about themselves. I’m sorry, but I don’t care that you tore your ACL in high school and that’s why you don’t play college football,” Brotherton said. 

Brotherton described her worst date, which happened back in high school in Colorado.

“A high school boyfriend took me to dinner after one of his basketball games. 

First, we went to Chick-fil-A and when we went through the drive-thru, he asked for two separate orders,” Brotherton said. “After we ate, he decided he was still hungry, and he drove to Noodles and Company.”

If Brotherton didn’t think the date could get any worse, she was wrong.“He was still in his basketball warmup suit, so he decided to change into jeans in the middle of the parking lot. He was literally standing in his boxers with people walking by. Thankfully, Brotherton has since gone on to bigger and better dates, even flying to a new state during one. 

“The best date I’ve ever had was a day trip with my boyfriend to Los Angeles. We planned it all the night before,” Brotherton said. “We woke up around 5 a.m., and caught the 8 a.m. flight. We hit up my favorite coffee shop on Abbot Kinney, Intelligentsia.”

Brotherton and her date went on to enjoy some of L.A.’s greatest offerings. 

“We then walked on Venice Beach, listened to the music on the boardwalk, and held hands all the while. He was a sweetheart, and it was fun going to a new place together and listening to him talk about what stood out to him the most.” Luke Bradley, a USD junior from Hawai’i, knew exactly what set apart a good date from a bad date. 

“A good date requires a few key ingredients: an open attitude, a lack of expectations, and a fun way to get to know each other. 

A bad date comes from one of two things: either a lack of connection or dishonesty from one party,” Bradley said 

“The worst date I ever went on was at Raising Cane’s in Honolulu. I’m pretty sure she just wanted a free meal and a ride home. We never talked again.” 

On the flipside, Bradley shared his positive dating history. 

“The best first date I went on was with my current girlfriend. We got coffee and went to the beach and just had an overall good time,” Bradley said. “If I could plan my ideal date with her, I would pick her up with some flowers, take her skydiving, and still make it for our dinner reservation at Juniper and Ivy.”

Lastly, USD junior Fallon Judy had some great advice on how to approach a date. 

“If people went into dates just being themselves and not trying to prove anything, I think everyone would benefit,” Judy said. “Maybe have a go-to question or something to break the ice.”

In high school, however, Judy endured a pretty rough date with someone she met on Instagram. 

“We planned to meet for boba, which in my opinion is a casual date that doesn’t have to be longer than it needs to be in case it’s bad — lucky me,” Judy said. 

“He was a little shorter than I expected but was kind, so we proceeded inside where he offered to buy my drink.”

Things took a turn for the worse when Judy’s date admitted the real reason he was so nervous during the date. 

“After getting small talk out of the way, he began to tell me how his nervousness from this date, which seemed cute, was actually just his body reacting to some under-the-table, black market, creatine pre-workout powder,” Judy said. 

“He said he was ‘tweaking’ out from it and was starting to twitch.”

Immediately, Judy was taken aback, and the flow of their date completely changed.

“After he mentioned that, he would address it anytime the conversation topics would shift making me feel like maybe he needed to leave.”

However, Judy has had many special dates since, and even has a clear idea of what her ideal date would be. 

“My dream date has no specific location,” Judy said. “It could even be the car ride to wherever we are going (there or back), but it would have to consist of exchanging favorite songs, making jokes, and good conversation flow where we both are actually learning something about each other and feeding off of each other’s energy.”

Judy really doesn’t expect or want anything crazy from her date.

“I think if anything, the cherry on the top would be ice cream at some point during the date,” Judy said. “Otherwise, all I need is some good laughs and an opportunity to hear about the other person’s passions because usually that’s how you get to know someone.”If it isn’t obvious already, dating has its ups and downs. What comes with these experiences are incredible memories, funny stories, and most importantly, lifelong lessons in that very special thing we like to call love.