The Risks of High School Romance

As a teen, do you often feel the pressure or the desire to get into a relationship? Why is that? The feeling of wanting to be in a relationship often comes from society– movies, TV shows, social media, and the people around you. While a relationship can have many benefits, teach important lessons, and offer exciting first experiences, it can tend to be an unnecessary stress for most teens. The downsides of the emotional stress, distractions, and low long-term success rates often outweigh the benefits. So, let’s break down the pros and cons of a high school relationship.

Pros

Now, not all relationships can end negatively, and it’s important to acknowledge the pros of being in a high school relationship. Usually, teens like the feeling of being in a romantic relationship. You might have a strong circle of supportive friends, but your relationship with your partner might feel different. You might be closer and be able to rely on each other for things that maybe friendships couldn’t provide. Having that dependability can be a huge benefit and can even act as a motivator for a student wanting to find a partner. A partner can be a pillar for someone and act as strong emotional support. Improvement in mood and mental health is a complete possibility. Being in a relationship early on can also provide more experience for future relationships, and just life in general. Even if the relationship doesn’t last, teens are likely to gain lots of lessons from being in one, lessons that can carry them for a long time and help them grow even in the moment.

Cons

But naturally, with relationships come many cons, especially since we’re talking about a younger age group, still growing and learning. School itself brings a lot of pressure and stress, and that unnecessary pressure towards wanting to be in a relationship can add on. Being in a relationship itself can be distracting as well, especially when going through a rough patch or a break-up. Both parties in the relationship could be too busy trying to maintain or fix their relationship that they start straying away from what might be more important, such as assessments. In a new relationship, too, students might want to put their all into the relationship, trying to put their relationship above all else. And as always, there’s a risk of the relationship being toxic or unhealthy, which is just draining. Especially since, as teens, there’s a lot we haven’t experienced and learned, being in this type of relationship can be extremely harmful, and really isn’t worth all the pain. Realistically, according to the blog OnlineDivorce, relationships for 16-year-olds last about 6 months, and about a year for 17 to 18-year-olds. Typically, older teens might be a bit more experienced and look for a more serious relationship, compared to younger ones. Even if the relationship is healthy, as you both go away to college, long-distance can come into play, and growing apart could be natural as you discover more and more about yourself. This is one of the more common reasons why 17 or 18-year-olds would end their relationship.

Ultimately,

There are inevitable pros and cons to being in a relationship, especially in high school. It’s up to you whether or not being in a relationship is worth it, but never feel pressured to get into one. You don’t need to be in one in high school, and you’re truly not missing out. You have plenty of time, and have a lot of your life left to live, so don’t consume all this teen romance content and feel like it’s something you have to experience. Sometimes, rushing into a relationship could cause you to be more susceptible to the negative parts of a relationship than if you take your time. Listen to yourself, not the outside noise, and that includes me too! Do whatever feels best for you, but don’t forget the risks.