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High School Romance-or tragedy? | Sydney Sherman
High School Romance-or tragedy?
by Sydney Sherman
You’ve seen them groping each other in the hallways and felt them making out practically on top of you in class—that’s right, I’m talking about all of you hormonal teenage couples. According to a Pew Research study, 35% of teens engage in some kind of relationship throughout high school, but should they? This article will highlight some of the pros and cons of choosing to partake in such an activity.
Pros:
Any modern teenager knows that having a significant other (or S.O.) means great Instagram pics. Not only can you post adorable pictures of your romantic two-week-iversary, but now you have your own personal photographer! (Caution: too many pictures may result in a decrease in followers)
Ever worried about your weekend plans? Now you don’t have to be. This person, by relationship law, must spend every second of every day with you, or how else could they possibly care about you?
Everyone loves free stuff. Since modern relationships are based on materialism, suddenly, you will constantly be given a ton of free things from flowers to chocolates, maybe even those shoes you have been drooling over.
You won’t have to go with the classic “I’m just going with friends this year” when fellow classmates egg you on about school dances. This applies to holidays, too. No more sympathy chocolates from Mom on Valentine’s Day.
Sick? Tired? Hungry? You now have your own personal butler. It’s like Uber Eats, but free. All you have to do is send them a simple “really craving a Mcflurry rn (add sad face emoji)” text, and next thing you know it’s right there in your hand.
Along with being your butler, they also act as your 24-hour therapist. This person must listen to, analyze, and discuss possible solutions to your problems with you at your beck and call.
No more spending hours trying to make your winged eyeliner look identical or slicking down that one rogue hair. Now, you can look like you slept in a dumpster at all times because you have that special someone who must accept you for the weirdo that you are.
Dating in highschool is great practice for the “real world”, whatever that is. Okay, so you got dumped because you showed up at their door uninvited in the middle of the night? Now you know that people don’t like stalkers.
Cons:
Friends? Family? What are those? Say goodbye to the people you love most because there’s a new sheriff in town, and they do not want to share you.
If you ever do get to go out with your friends, be prepared for constant messages from your S.O. like “Miss you,” “Don’t talk to any boys/girls there,” and “Answer me now or we are breaking up you terrible human being.” Cute stuff like that.
You might as well upgrade to unlimited data because you will be glued to your phone with snapchats, Instagram DMs, text messages, phone calls, and FaceTimes.
Whether you started dating freshman year or second semester senior year, graduation is always there, lurking at the back of your mind. It’s going to end eventually, so why even try?
You will be bombarded with constant questions from your parents and grandparents. Having to talk to Grandma about the miracle of life at Thanksgiving dinner isn’t exactly my idea of fun.
Dating is expensive. From movie dates, to little gifts, to getting food all the time, it will soon dawn on you that you have no money left in your bank account. It is recommended to get a part-time job to sustain your relationship, or a full-time job if your S.O. is out of your league.
You go to CCA. On top of AP classes, sports, conservatory, clubs, jobs, or any other dedicated hobby you have, who has time to also be in a committed relationship? We’re trying to get into college over here, not plan out our weddings.
If you can’t drive, you can forget about all of those late night dates you dreamed of, gazing up at the stars, or some crazy roadtrip you want to go on. Get used to awkward car rides with their dad as you explain that an impromptu paintball match broke out next to your innocent picnic and that’s why your S.O. has those marks on his/her neck.
In the end, the choice is yours to make (and another consenting individual of course), but don’t say I didn’t warn you.