For some, high school dating represents an essential part of the teenage years and helps with personal growth. Meanwhile, others think that it can cause unnecessary distraction, drama and emotionally distract you. In reality, dating in high school can be complicated. It can be fun and meaningful, but it can also be distracting and difficult. The experience a teenage couple has often depends on how mature people are.
In high school, dating can mean so many different things, from awkwardly being together in the halls to texting everyday. Sometimes, it is a true relationship in the traditional sense of the word, other times it is just a situationship that may not even interact with each other in person, only over text. Because of those mixed outcomes, it is safe to say that high school dating is neither definitively good nor bad, it just depends on who the relationship is between.
Dating in high school has its highs, like a first real crush, football games, pictures and dances. High school relationships can help teens learn more about themselves. It also gives them a chance to figure out what they like in a partner and what kind of boundaries they will set. Dating can also set skills like communication, compromise and empathy, which are useful for many other real-life situations. A healthy relationship can boost confidence and make someone feel like they can reach their full personal potential.
On the down side, high school is already full of responsibilities, work, tests, sports and preparing for college. Adding a relationship into the mix can make it more difficult to balance everything. Since teens are still learning how to manage emotions, break-ups can be hard and really painful. Another problem is that dating in high school rarely stays private, and as friends gossip and rumors will spread, dating can become more of a popularity contest than actual feelings and connections. Sometimes immaturity can cause jealousy, controlling behavior and manipulation.
The GH Falcon sat down with Green Hope student Alex Williams (28’) to get her opinion on high school dating and what its appeal is. Williams shared her opinion that dating in high school is often taken too seriously, and said, “I think someone just wants someone by their side because high school emotions are so hard, and everyone is going through their own thing, so they just want someone to be there with them. Don’t think too much about high school relationships. You have so much ahead of you.”
It’s important to realize that a high school relationship isn’t always a goal worth chasing. These relationships can bring drama and unnecessary stress, but they can also create connection and a sense of safety. Relationships are not supposed to be about who get more gifts or who gets posted more, they’re supposed to be about connections. Whether a relationship is good or bad depends on the point of view, commitment and ability to balance everything and being willing to do everything for another person.
