Whitney

whitney2

Name: WhitneyHometown: Abia State, NigeriaAge: 23Age You First Fell in Love: 19, he was my first real boyfriend.Love Is: The feeling I had was a feeling of absolute fullness. I felt as if I had found my soulmate. I wanted nothing but to spend all my time with my love. It was a feeling of completeness, having someone to always be with, cuddle with and hold. I felt as if I could give this person the world if he asked for it. Unfortunately, it didn't work out, which I think made me hard on the inside. I became more distant and cold when it came to love, because the feeling of loneliness and emptiness was unbearable. As for being African, I think it made me want to find love and not just settle for anyone. African culture stresses that girls, especially, get married at an early age. So I think that I'm at the age where I feel pressured to find love, but deep down still reluctant to find it.

Jackie

Name: JackieHometown: Kennesaw, Georgia and Delta State, NigeriaAge: 25Age You First Fell in Love: 23Love Is: I think there's a difference between being in love and loving someone. I've said I've been in love, but I don't think I meant it. I do think that love is being connected mind, body and spirit. My fear in love is that it won't have God at the center, if He's not at the center then it's not love. My culture definitely influenced my idea of love. I felt like I was given a guideline on finding the ideal man and that love would come if he met the requirements. He had to have financial stability, be educated, handsome and African. I was so wrapped [up] in the concept of the ideal man that love took a backseat, along with my religious beliefs. It was not until this year that I realized that although having a guideline is important, I also have to make sure that God takes center stage in pursuit of love.

Whitney

Name: WhitneyHometown: Abia State, NigeriaAge: 23Age You First Fell in Love: 19, he was my first real boyfriend.Love Is: The feeling I had was a feeling of absolute fullness. I felt as if I had found my soulmate. I wanted nothing but to spend all my time with my love. It was a feeling of completeness, having someone to always be with, cuddle with and hold. I felt as if I could give this person the world if he asked for it. Unfortunately, it didn't work out, which I think made me hard on the inside. I became more distant and cold when it came to love, because the feeling of loneliness and emptiness was unbearable. As for being African, I think it made me want to find love and not just settle for anyone. African culture stresses that girls, especially, get married at an early age. So I think that I'm at the age where I feel pressured to find love, but deep down still reluctant to find it.