High school is the time of the year where relationships begin to blossom. Many high school students between the ages of 13 and 17 experience a romantic relationship. The big question is, are teen relationships a distraction, and are they more beneficial or harmful to the students?

Teen romance can have its pros and cons. Cheating, messy breakups, and sometimes even friends having conflicts within the relationship are some of the cons of teen romance. However, some people in high school simply are not mature enough to maintain a healthy relationship. On the positive side of teen romance, dating can provide many opportunities for individuals to learn about each other, and be able to develop that ¨couple¨ title.

Dating allows for couples to interact in different settings, test each other´s camaraderie, and learn what commitments, or in more general terms, what the relationship is all about.

In some cases, very rare cases, many teens are pressured to be in a relationship because they see other individuals, sometimes their own peers in relationships.

“I do not believe there is a lot of pressure on high school teens being involved in a romantic relationship. I feel it’s the opposite with them being encouraged to pursue other things such as a further education and other upcoming events” said Ryan Huang, student of John Dewey High School.

If there is pressure on some teens, and they decide to pursue these relationships does it affect their performance in school? Are they so focused on the relationship, that they forget about the most important thing.. their education?

“Students are so much more worried about the relationship, it’s like they nitpick at the slightest things that happen. Just the other day, I heard a student in the hallway talking about how her boyfriend was somewhere on Instagram, but he lied and told her that he was somewhere else. I didn’t even know what to think. But it’s further indication that students focus more on the relationship, than school”, said Michelle Pilla, secretary at John Dewey High School.

The reality of dating in high school is that individuals are going to make their own decisions. Everyone is going to have their opinions. Teen romance is a learning experience. It’s the start of new beginnings.

The same way that entering high school is a new beginning- the same can be said for teen relationships.