The Lariat, December 2017

Page 1

What’s inside: Taking the Stage: Students take part in an annual showcase of talents Page 4

WORTH

The Newspaper of Cooper City High School | Issue III, December 2017

THE

BY ABBIE TUSCHMAN Staff Writer

Stars in Tiaras: Fall play “Game of Tiaras” displays the passion of the drama department. Page 13

TROUBLE?

Star-crossed lovers meet in high school, begin a relationship despite the disapproval of the community and create sure-fire plans for their shared future. A fitting indie song plays in the background as the story comes to a close. The trademark features of countless films have been ingrained into modern youth and, once the credits roll, leave many teenagers scrambling for their soulmate. In movies, TV shows and books about high school, romance is often a central theme. Though there are overwhelming pressures to date in high school, students should not make relationships a priority during such formative years. Many teenagers begin relationships with skewed intentions, such as satisfying societal expectations placed upon them, rather than genuinely desiring to be with someone. Although distorted sentiments are expected from adolescents, they can lead to unhappy relationships. Research conducted by University of Illinois professor Dr. Reed Larson found a correlation between the negative emotions of teenagers in relationships and the superficiality of their attachments. Frivolous feelings can make relationships less rewarding, resulting in dissatisfaction. “It takes time for a teenager to realize that a

relationship isn’t just an infatuation based on haphazard attraction, but an entity on which two people with compatible personalities work together,” Dr. Larson said. In other words, relationships between teenagers often fail because they are not based on a healthy conception of what a relationship ought to be. Making relationships a priority may also cause high school students to neglect other aspects of their lives such as academics and involvement in extracurriculars. Having a boyfriend or girlfriend takes time that can detract from educational and social opportunities. Academic achievement and extracurriculars are imperative to future success and should take precedence over starting a relationship. A common rationale for a focus on relationships in high school is that dating as a teenager provides useful experience for finding a companion as an adult. But experience as a teen usually does not apply to adulthood. As many parents may be relieved to hear, teenagers do not act as they will later in life. A scientific explanation for the often impulsive behavior of adolescents is that the frontal lobe is not fully developed until age 25. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, this is why teenagers have a reputation for poor judgment and

a lack of regard for potential consequences. Futile flings in teen years could serve as a distraction, but teenagers do not have the neurological capacity to recognize how relationships interfere with other areas of their lives. It is true that high school romance can develop into long, successful relationships and even marriage. High school sweethearts are not uncommon. But in high school, students are not the same people they will be for the rest of their lives. Teenage years are confusing and frustrating, often for good reason. Adolescence is associated with angst and hormones. It also transforms bumbling youths into refined, autonomous adults. Because of this, two people that are compatible in high school may not be so later in life. In high school, students are already in the arduous process of discovering their true identities. From the ages of 14 to 18 years old, students are faced with a wealth of new opportunities and responsibilities, including the stressful task of choosing an education or career path. Movies’ heavy focus on young love should not be viewed as a guideline for navigating high school. Instead, they should be seen as merely a form of entertainment. It is admirable to achieve a balance between coursework and dating, but finding footing in the real world does not need to be done while holding someone else’s hand.

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