High school relationships can be an exciting addition to one’s high school experience, but they also have the potential to ruin it. Relationships can become toxic, may not last very long, and can even lead to drama between friends. High school itself is already full of tiring amounts of studying for tests, completing homework, and finishing projects, so getting into relationships can simply add more stress, anxiety, and pressure to an already heavy workload.
High school relationships have the potential to become toxic, which in turn could lead to a poor high school experience. Many teenagers are inexperienced when it comes to dating and their minds are not fully developed, making it harder to identify toxic traits that may become apparent in relationships. According to Healthline, a website about well-being, “Depending on the nature of the relationship, signs of toxicity can be subtle or highly obvious” (healthline.com). Toxicity can lead to pressure and anxiety, and teens may not even realize that they are in a toxic relationship until it is over.
Lots of high school relationships do not last and end up coming to an end sooner than later, which can cause a lot of stress. According to a website on building healthy relationships, “The median length of high school relationships was approximately five to six months and according to a study conducted by the University of Georgia, the average high school relationship lasts about six months to one year” (yawamoateng.com). High school already puts enough stress and pressure on teenagers but having to go through a break up can pile even more stress on top of that, and can lead to emotional pressure.
If a relationship does come to an end during the school year, it can be hard to get over, and that can become distracting and exhausting. According to Healthline, “ongoing stress can take a toll on physical and mental health, and you might frequently feel miserable, mentally and physically exhausted, or generally unwell” (healthline.com). Having this much stress put on one student can create poor mental health and dreadful high school years. How can a student concentrate on schoolwork when going through an emotional breakup? Grades may end up slipping as well.
High school relationships also have the potential to stir up drama between friends. “I used to be really good friends with a guy in my grade and we were in the same friend group. We both ended up liking each other and eventually started to date, but a couple months later we ended up breaking up, and it got super awkward when our friend group would hang out. This caused us all to stop hanging out,” said Sophomore Riley Conklin. Relationships that come to an end in high school can cause drama and can possibly split up friendships.
Sure, dating while in high school could result in lasting memories to look back on in the future. It might also make certain events like Homecoming or Winter Formal more enjoyable, and it would be nice to know that you have someone to accompany you to these events. Having a relationship in high school also might make dating easier in the future because you would be more familiar with relationships. Despite this, the cons outweigh the pros.
Dating in high school may be more difficult and stressful than it seems. Certain aspects, like toxicity, break ups and drama, can make it hard to date in high school and even result in a bad high school experience. High school should be a fun time when one is able to relax and enjoy life, and not something we want to look back and regret, so saving relationships for after high school will ensure that one gets the high school memories one wants.