STAFF EDITORIAL LOVE IS IN THE AIR
Illustration by Audrey Carter
H
igh school is full of new experiences. Your first pep rally, first Friday night football game, and possibly, your very first relationship. Dating in high school is common; stereotypes about it are equally so. These sentiments are commonly echoed by concerned family members and friends alike: college is inevitable, and so your relationship will probably end soon. You’re young and dumb and do not need a significant other added to the stress of growing up. It’s pointless. So, what’s the point of dating in high school when it’s not going to last? The answer is simple: it teaches valuable life lessons. Relationships force young adults into situations where they need to acquire certain skills. An article from the New York State website on Teen Dating Abuse Awareness and Prevention stated that the key foundations for a relationship include boundaries, communication, trust, and consent. These foundations can be difficult to create at any stage in life. However, dating experience makes it easier to figure out important relationship guidelines early on—and have more time to use them later. Furthermore, relationships often bring turmoil. When fights happen, couples need to resolve their differences by discussing their feelings in effective ways. If they fail to do so, the relationship will inevitably fall apart. Beyond these lessons, relationships help young adults discover what they are looking for in a significant other and who they truly
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are themselves. Dating experience at this age provides information about the types of habits, behaviors, and values one wants in a partner. Discovering what is important to someone in their partner can also help avoid failed relationships later on in life. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Healthy dating during the teenage years can be an important way to develop social skills, learn about other people, and grow emotionally. These relationships also can play a role in supporting youth’s ability to develop positive relationships in other areas including: in school, with employers, and with partners during adulthood.” It is possible to date at later stages of life. However, teenagers should not consider their relationships futile. In the end, these relationships will only contribute to the experience of finding a significant other in college or beyond. Additionally, high school is better suited for experimentation, whether that be dying hair or getting a piercing or dating. It is an age where a lot of the decisions teenagers make can be temporary and not have an overwhelmingly harsh effect—trying to navigate the first relationship while in college completing a degree or at your first job is a lot more high stakes than it is when you are supported by family and friends around you in case something goes awry. Moreover, time management is an important life skill to develop. Relationships are often criticized as being a needless
distraction. Yet, caring for a significant other is a common adult responsibility. Learning how to manage this responsibility, along with other obligations, is vital for future success. While dating can provide experience, it does necessitate a level of maturity that many teenagers do not always exhibit. When this maturity is not present, there are many risks involved like being distracted in school or getting heartbroken by the wrong person. However, one could argue that these experiences can first, teach maturity to those making poor decisions. And second, mistakes are better made at a younger age rather than an older one. Clearly, there are times when unhealthy relationships can give rise to negative, lasting impacts. When that happens, someone in a teenager’s life should step in to guide them. This guidance will allow them to learn from negative situations. Relationships are not a necessity for every teenager’s high school experience. However, it is important to realize that they can provide an experience that involves important skills and opportunities for self-discovery. These meaningful experiences can be helpful as teenagers grow older. While those dating should be mature enough to handle what they are taking on, high school is, in many ways, a lower risk time to have a first relationship than later on. Dating allows teenagers to learn and grow in unique ways before entering the real world.
This editorial is the consensus of the Devils’ Advocate editorial staff.
2/24/20 1:54 PM
