College Conflictions

Hey guys,so I’m going through the typical “should I keep my relationship going as I begin my college career” panic, and am in need of some advice.

I have been dating the same guy for two years and five months now. We met through high school, and started dating when he was a senior and I was a sophomore. When we started dating, I had just gotten out of an emotionally abusive relationship, and he had been emotionally played with by another girl, so we just became a support system for each other. The last two years have been incredible, whereas I could see myself with him for the rest of my life. He constantly tells me that he can see me in his life in the future, and wouldn’t ever have a reason to break up with me. I have always been happiest with him, since he is my best friend.

I am currently about to begin my freshmen year of college at the same college that he recently transferred to (for his own personal reasons; this isn’t a “follow them to college” situation). The last few months have been difficult since I’m questioning whether or not I want to continue dating him. I have only dated two people seriously (him included), and feel as though my feelings towards him have changed. Our dynamic has changed over the two years, to the point where I feel more like a mother than a girlfriend to him. I feel as though we are maturing at different paces, and that we aren’t as compatible as we used to be. I love him to death, but I feel as though I love him as a best friend instead of as a romantic partner. I am realizing that I have my whole life ahead of me, and that I don’t really want to be “tied down”. I will be meeting so many new people, and with college being a huge adjustment, I don’t want to place all of my focus on school and extracurriculars while leaving him with my exhausted attention; that’s not fair to him.

If anyone has any advice for how to navigate through these mixed emotions, it would be greatly appreciated <3 i’m really in the need of some help