Dear Ashmitha:

I think that you have the wrong friends because  you wrote: “‘Friends‘ have made fun of me for ‘hopping from guy to guy’ before.. When I stood up for myself and left relationships, I was made fun of for it“-  who are these “friends” who made or make fun of you.. I bet they get hurt when they are made fun of:  they know it hurts, and yet they are willing to hurt..  a friend?

This guy, I do not like him, from the totality of what you shared. His friends say he is great (“Everyone around him says he is a really caring person and a great guy”)- I think that his friends are as wrong about him just as your friends are wrong about you (when they make fun of you!)

“I secretly care a lot about what other people think of me“- I openly think well of you, and I think that you deserve better than this guy who to you at least,  is uncaring and not great at all!

“”I’ll be working full-time, completing my master’s full-time and working at the university as a graduate research assistant part-time“- I hope you invest all that you have in your work and education: this is where you are most likely to get a return on your investment. The “friends”, the guy.. I don’t see the return on your investment in them.

anita