For many students, high school is a time of firsts: first classes, first jobs, and often first relationships. As teenagers navigate growing independence and self-discovery, romantic relationships become another space where students learn, make mistakes, and figure out what love means to them.
“I’ve learned that as much as you might want to spend every waking second with your partner, it is much better to allocate time for yourselves to be alone or with other people,” said senior Andrew Rocks. “It can be overwhelming spending every day with the same person.”
Balancing a relationship is tricky, especially when students are still learning how to care for themselves. Conflicting schedules may be filled with sports, work, or other after-school activities, which often make it a challenge to find time together, but that doesn’t stop students from trying.
“[High school relationships are] juvenile, but not in a bad way,” said senior Emma Miller. “We’re still learning how to function in all these different social situations. We’re constantly growing and changing.”
Love itself is hard to define. Some describe it as romantic or a sense of completeness; others as chaotic or uncontrollable. Students’ experiences with relationships vary widely, shaping how they understand love and connection.
“In my first relationship, I wasn’t sure if it was normal to treat my partner as a friend, or if I had to treat him differently,” said senior Sophia Troutman. “I was constantly questioning if I was doing this ‘correctly’ and trying to act how ‘normal’ people would be in a relationship.”
Maintaining a healthy relationship requires effort from both people involved. While definitions of a healthy relationship may differ, many students agree that communication, time, loyalty, and effort play vital roles in keeping a relationship strong.
“There are a lot of different beliefs about what should go into a relationship and to what extent,” said junior Arya Shockey. “It’s crucial to find someone who can align with what you believe should be put into a relationship so that you can get what you want out of one.”
First relationships in particular can be formative during high school, often setting the foundation for future relationships and emotional growth. While many students share similar experiences, every first relationship feels deeply personal to the person experiencing it.
“[My first relationship was partly] scary because I had never been in one before. I think I learned that some things are not meant to be, and some people are better as friends,” said junior Eva Ickert. “I also learned that you have to really consider what you want to put into it.”
Overall, high school relationships are less about finding perfection and more about growth. For students, high school relationships are not defined by longevity, but the experiences that shape who they become in future relationships and beyond.
