Love & Dating | February 15th, 2025
FAMU’s Finest ’25: Khalil-Lullah Ballentine
By: Raina Smith | Managing Editor
Some things in life don’t need an explanation—they just click. That same feeling is what brought Khalil-Lullah Ballentine to FAMU. At every other school he toured, he felt starstruck but here he felt something deeper. A push. A pull. Something unspoken that told him he belonged. And when it comes to relationships, he looks for that same kind of connection.
Khalil describes himself as authentically him. He’s open about who he is, what he loves and what he believes in and he wants the people around him to feel comfortable doing the same. For him, relationships—romantic or otherwise—are about more than surface-level interactions. He puts a lot of focus on truly knowing the people in his life as well as understanding himself and the world around him.
“I’m someone who enjoys loving life and enjoys loving the people in my life,” he said.
That’s why his love language is quality time. He values the moments spent building something real—whether that’s deep conversations, small gestures or simply existing in each other’s space. If he had to win someone over without them seeing him, he’d start by talking about his aspirations—the life he’s working toward, the future he envisions and how he wants to share it with someone special.
Since coming to FAMU, Khalil has taken a more mature approach to dating. He believes the process of getting to know someone is just as important as the relationship itself.
“Love is the product of getting to know someone and realizing that you really enjoy the impact they have on your life and wanting to bring that same level of goodness into theirs as well,” he said.
A perfect night with Khalil might start with dinner, lead into a concert—he’s been getting into country and indie music lately—then wrap up with a night out, just going with the vibe. He believes in bringing someone into his world the same way he’d embrace theirs. To him, relationships should be a mutual effort, where both people see each other as something worth choosing and appreciating every day.
“I think the ambition to grow the relationship together is a really important quality,” he said.
“You should both treat each other as the prize.”
When it comes to attraction, he’s drawn to voices, gentleness and intelligence. But more than anything, he values conversation—the kind that makes you think that lingers in your mind long after it’s over. Because for Khalil, the real connection isn’t just about what you see. It’s about what you feel.
