From the moment they met, the conversation was effortless – no awkward silences, no forced laughter. Standing across from them, I could tell this blind date was off to a promising start.
Freshman Lia Wilson and junior Alejandro Hernandez were selected by Roo News to go on a blind date; the two chose Sinkers Lounge, a mini-golf spot in Power & Light, as their date location.
Wilson arrived about ten minutes early, giving me the chance to chat with her before Hernandez showed up. She insisted there were no nerves, just excitement for whatever the night had in store.
“I think it’ll be fun,” Wilson said. “If anything, this is for the plot, or maybe we all just become friends. Either way, I’m excited.”
Shortly after, Hernandez arrived. The two exchanged a handshake, checked in, and picked out their golf clubs. From the start the energy was upbeat. The conversation flowed easily as they made their way to the first hole.
As they walked into the pink colored room, any lingering awkwardness faded. Wilson went first, taking an easy shot that landed close to the hole. Hernandez followed, missing by just an inch.
Both Wilson and Hernandez lead busy lives, juggling full-time school schedules along with multiple jobs. Despite that, both were fully present, engaged, and open to the experience.
The two fell into a natural rhythm – light competition mixed with plenty of conversation. Hernandez admitted to some initial nerves before the date.
“I was a little nervous walking up because I didn’t know how this was going to go,” he said. “I feel like I’m usually the one steering the conversation, but it was really nice to have someone else take the lead too.”
That someone was Wilson, whose extroverted personality kept the conversation dynamic.
“I liked that he started talking right off the bat, so it wasn’t awkward,” Wilson said. “I’m glad we both had the same expectations going into this – it really was just for the plot.”
As the game continued, they skipped past the usual surface-level icebreakers and got into more engaging discussions. Both agreed that the experience was about having fun, not necessarily seeking romance.
“I think we are both on the same page about this being something fun to try,” Hernandez said. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was relieved that Lia was so easy to talk to. It made the whole thing really enjoyable.”
By the end of the night, Wilson and Hernandez walked away with a positive experience, whether or not it led to something more.
“At the end of the day, I knew it’d either be a friend or funny story,” said Wilson. “I don’t regret doing it. I had a good time.”
While romance may not have been in the cards, Wilson said she’d be open to hanging out with Hernandez again – just maybe not in a dating capacity.
“That doesn’t say anything about the date itself,” she clarified. “I just prefer to be close friends with someone before I date them.”
For Hernandez, the date was a much needed break from his packed schedule.
“I was a little exhausted going into it, but I quickly relaxed and genuinely had fun,” he said. “I haven’t had much time to meet new people outside of my usual circle, so this was something really fun to look forward to.”
abtxz@umkc.edu
