What makes a great date
Conversation and chemistry are the key to a great date, at least according to a sample of Butler County Community College employees and students. And kindness and a sense of humor are the top attributes when they are looking for that special someone.
Of course, Amber Speakman, 19, of Butler, a freshman general studies major, has already found her special someone — her husband of one month, Marco Cantera. What she really wants, she said, is some time out of the house.
“Go out to dinner, me and my husband, go out to dinner and watch a movie in the theaters,” said Speakman, of what she would consider a good date.
The location of the date isn't as important as the interaction, said Guido Rotunda, 25, of Renfrew.
“It's really more about the chemistry, in my opinion,” he said. “It would be nice to see someone who has a lot of the same likes and dislikes as yourself.”
“It's really about likes and interests because it really sets the foundation of the relationship, in my opinion,” Rotunda said.
Jacob Durso, 18, of Slippery Rock, a freshman psychology student, sees a first date as a chance to build a foundation.
“Really, anything the other person wants to do that would be fun that we could talk about afterward,” Purso said. “If we went to a movie, we could talk about that afterward.”
Speakman's idea of a dream date isn't shared by Christopher Royce, 37, of Indiana, Pa.
“I'm more of a dinner and some kind of activity guy,” Royce said. “If you are in a movie, you are really not communicating. You are just sitting around watching the same thing.
“When my wife and I started dating, we tried to do things she enjoyed doing one time and what I liked the next. We got to know each other. We've been together for 11 years and married for three.”
Jeremy Michael, 19, a sophomore criminal justice student from Butler, also said a movie as a first date would not be his choice.“There has to be good communication; you've got to be able to talk,” Michael said. “You have to be going out and doing something fun, but not movies on the first date. You can't talk and it's awkward. You don't know if you should put your arm around her.”Kaylan Coriale, 18, a freshman business management student from Natrona Heights, has a less stressful agenda in mind.Asked about her favorite date activities, Coriale said, “Just like sitting at home watching a movie, maybe ordering something in, just chilling.”Rich Benko, manager of the bookstore at the Student Success Center, said an ideal date would include “good conversation — and you can't go wrong with a good meal, and you have to be with someone you are compatible with.”“Well, they have to be outgoing and have good communication skills,” Benko said. “They should share some of the same interests as me.”Compatibility is high on a list of traits people are looking for in a significant other.
Allison Jones, 19, of Lyndora, a freshman communications/graphics design student, said, “It's important that they be caring and that you can have a good time together.”And they should be interested in learning about their dates' interests, said Brooke Draper, 40, of Butler, a secretary in the community college library.“The man has to express he's actually interested in you, and I think that comes across if he asks questions and acts interested,” Draper said. “They should have kindness and intelligence. Somebody (who) is socially aware and stable and knows how to treat people well.”Those traits are also important for Coriale.“They should be sweet, kind, you know, treats me like a human,” she said. “I've known a couple of guys not to do that. If I'm having trouble with something, I can talk to them about it.”Michael, the sophomore, and Maddy Hilliard, 18, a freshman education student from Butler, agree that a sense of humor is important.“Funny, smart, a good sense of humor, kind and good hearted,” said Michael, listing appealing attributes.Hilliard said she didn't have a checklist but added, “They have to be nice, obviously, and have a good sense of humor.”
