We all know that one friend who fell so deep in love with their partner that they forgot all about youโฆ and then three weeks later you had to console them after that whirlwind relationship came to a bitter end. Yet the question remains: are they worth it? High school relationships can be valuable opportunities for personal growth, but most are not, largely due to a culture of romantic hype. In addition, the way we think about them in absolutes encourages poor matchups and bad habits that can set students up for trouble in their love lives down the road.
But Dylan, you might ask, how can you be so cynical? I have not. There were certainly very positive aspects of my relationships, like the excitement of the chase or the elation of the first kiss. However, even if many students would personally rather focus on themselves than find a partner, high school culture can make it hard to remove yourself from the dating scene.
Just look at pop culture: almost all teen movies, television shows, books, and songs include romantic storylines. First, it encourages us to date people for the sake of dating alone. After my talking stages end, I usually feel like I was just forcing myself to like them because I was bored and wanted to spice up my love life.
Second, when high school students feel pressure to get into a relationship, they tend to look for people who are readily available and socially convenientโwe judge romantic partners by their proximity instead of their quality.
I want to wait for someone that truly makes me happy. In addition, students sometimes seem to forget that relationships are always complicated, especially at such an early age. Just recently, I asked my mom how long it took her to realize she wanted to marry my dad.
