Alyssa Chambers
Guest Columnists

As humans, when we initially become acquainted with someone we’re attracted to, one of the first questions we ask ourselves is,“Are they out of my league?” What does this mean? How can one decipher who is in or out of their league? This tactic is an incredibly shallow crutch used in deciding whether or not to pursue an interest.
I’ll be honest with you. During my high school years, I used the “code of leagues” religiously. I wouldn’t even consider a guy unless he owned a well decorated letterman jacket. And heaven forbid he was shorter than me. That was a big no-no. Regrettably, I also carried this superficial mentality with me to college. First semester of my freshman year I was joking around with a friend about someone being so “out of my league,” he stopped, looked at me, and he asked, “Have you ever thought that maybe there’s no such thing as leagues? That anyone can fall in love with anyone, as long as they allow themselves to?” Clearly this is a question that I’ve reflected on a lot between then and now.
He made an interesting point. Leagues are judgmental confinements we’ve instilled in our shallow minds. We’ve limited ourselves and set these fallacious standards, that we forbid ourselves dip below or shoot above. By continuing to abide by these restrictions we inevitably decline countless opportunities to meet and get to know others, whether romantically or just as friends.
It seems that the concept of “leagues” is far more crippling to our love lives, than it is beneficial. After all, when you find that special person and you fall in love, you’re in love with more than just their appearance. Sure, you find them physically attractive, but when asked why you love them you’re not going to say, “Because he has a mouth watering six pack,” or “Because my baby ‘got back’.” You’re most likely head over heels for this person because they make you laugh, you trust them, or because they make you want to be a better person. All of these characteristics combined are what attracts you to them. Not because, externally, they fit quaintly into your league. Besides, when you begin to gProxy-Connection: keep-alive
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w old with someone and Depends Diapers and Viagra are introduced to the relationship, you better hope you’re with someone who loves you for your personality because, odds are, looks are out the door at this point.
So my conclusion is, there is no such thing as Major League Love. Leagues are simply barriers we delegate within our minds that can either make us feel better or worse about ourselves. Be confident in yourself and who you love. Walk through campus, looking at every person along the way and honestly ask yourself, if you could love them. Disregard your self-imposed limitations because love is limitless.
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aachambe@mesastate.edu