These Cyclone couples have found commitment and love at Iowa State.

Mindy Okland and Travis Nicholson have been dating for nearly four years. They attended the same high school and met through Okland’s brother.

Okland, senior in elementary education, said she and Nicholson, junior in management, have more time to spend with one another in college than they did while they were in high school.

“In high school we didn’t have a lot of time together because of sports or activities that we each had,” she said. “In college, all we have is school and each other and so the relationship is more serious.”

Nicholson said the dating atmosphere in college is much different than in high school.

“I think it can be very difficult to have a healthy and lasting relationship in college,” he said. “I think any setting in life will try a relationship, but it’s how you handle it that is most important. Mindy and I don’t put ourselves into bad situations where a bad judgment call can ruin the relationship.”

Okland said maintaining a long-lasting relationship comes in the form of two words: Communication and trust.

“My advice is, don’t avoid telling your girlfriend or boyfriend how you really feel,” she said. “Always be open and never, ever lie to them. Also, don’t be afraid to get into a fight, but don’t make everything their fault, because it isn’t. No one is perfect.”

Courtney Clark, junior in psychology, and Shannon Schwartz, senior in finance, have been dating off and on for more than seven years. They, too, dated in high school, but attended different high schools. The two met when Schwartz was baby-sitting for his aunt, who was Clark’s neighbor.

“She is someone that knows everything about me,” he said. “I feel comfortable telling her anything and knowing I can open up to her at any time.”

Despite their cohesive bond, Clark said she and Schwartz encountered difficulties in college they didn’t face while in high school.

“The hardest thing for me to deal with was having Shannon in college for two years while I was in high school,” she said. “During this time he experimented and dated other girls without telling me. The hardest thing about this is that I had to totally relearn how to trust him. I am still working on this.”

Clark said even with all of their rough times, the benefits of being in a committed relationship with Schwartz are well worth it.

“With Shannon, I always have my best friend right there for me,” she said. “He is a steady person that you know really cares about your well-being and will be honest with you when no one else is.”

Jenae Eckroth and Ryan Kamps, junior in management information systems, have been dating for a little over two years. The two met in the residence halls their freshman year.

“We were pretty much together from the first day we met,” Ekroth said.

Eckroth, junior in management information systems, said their similar majors and lifestyles play a huge role in their relationship.

“We have similar dreams and very similar interests,” she said. “I think being able to be 100 percent comfortable around him is also a huge bonus.”

Eckroth said her advice to people beginning a new relationship is to “take care of any loose ends.”

“Don’t drag too much baggage into a new relationship because it’s really hard to overcome,” she said.

Nicole Carpenter and Jake Nicholson, sophomore in political science, have been together for nearly four years. They began dating in high school, where they met through mutual friends.

Carpenter, sophomore in pre-business, said her favorite memory with Nicholson took place a week before the two started dating.

“On my 16th birthday, Jake promised me he’d come to school to wish me a ‘happy birthday,’ but when I came to school, he wasn’t there,” she said. “Then when I walked into sixth period and he jumped out and surprised me. He had been sick all day, but came to school to see me on my birthday.”

Both Carpenter and Nicholson agree the biggest hardship in their relationship occurred in high school, when several people were opposed to their relationship.

“His family, his friends and my friends all thought we should break up,” Carpenter said. “I think that’s why today we are each other’s best friend because when the world was against us, we stuck together.”