By Pony Express Editorial Board
Pros
Dating in high school has its ups and downs, but ultimately it can be a wonderful experience. An upside to having a high school relationship is getting to experience once in a lifetime events like going to football games and dances like Prom and Homecoming with someone. The excitement of coordinating outfits, getting corsages or boutonnieres, and getting asked out with a big cheesy sign is something you can only experience in a high school relationship.
While high school relationships may not last forever, you can still learn a lot from them. Communication is the basis of every relationship and you are able to figure out what your likes and dislikes are by talking with your partner. You also learn how to grow, support, and love someone rather than learning it later in life. High school is a crucial point in our lives where we are still figuring out who we are and evolving as people, so having a partner you know will be there to support and cheer you up during hard times, is comforting and beneficial – everyone needs someone to be there for them.
To be able to experience teenage love is something not everyone gets, but if you do, it can be beautiful.
Cons
While some can see the good of dating in high school, others find harm in it. A part of it is that the spotlight is on you. High school is a unique situation where everyone knows everything about everyone, and it might be hard to simply enjoy the exclusivity of relationships. This can add a lot of unnecessary peer pressure on your relationship and make you second guess as you wouldn’t have before.
Most people’s first relationships happen in high school, so they don’t have any prior experience, and most relationship expectations come from the unrealistic media. Your expectations for a relationship may be too unrealistic if you are basing them off what you’ve seen in the movies. Not many people are going to fill your house with flowers or leave their lives behind to confess their unconditional love for you.
Although everyone deserves to have their love expressed in extravagant ways, teenagers don’t have a lot of money, resources or simply brain cells to be that thoughtful. Young love isn’t always what it seems and sometimes you just have to be content with what you have right here and now.
