Panther Press
Love or Studies?Tuesday, May 08, 2012 By Wyatt Ha
In life, there are a few things that humans can’t live without, such as food, water, sleep, and in my opinion, love. I mean we humans are creatures that need someone to love and to be loved by. If you think about it, people spend their whole lives searching for or being with their soul mate. It doesn’t matter what age you are, you’ll always want someone to love. So, as students who go to high school, it’s obvious that we would want to find someone to spend those years with as well, though it may not be as serious. But to juggle a relationship and your school work, among other things may seem difficult though many of us do it still. That brings up the question of should students stop the relationships and focus on their school work or should they try and juggle their school work and their relationships. It can be hard to decide whether or not to be in a high school relationship. Realistically, most of high school relationships don’t even make it out of the four long years and there’s an even smaller chance that a high school couple will marry. That’s not to say that there is no chance that you will end up marring your high school love, but four long years of dealing with bullies, tests, grades, and teachers can make it quite difficult. There is no doubt that it would be nice to have someone to spend time with on the weekends, someone to vent to about all of the headaches high school cause, but isn’t it possible that the very person who helps relieve the stress of high school could be the very thing that is distracting you from it? Perhaps when you should be studying for your Algebra II final, you’re at the movies with the “love of your life.” Maybe rather than focusing on a lecture on the Ancient Phoenicians in World History, you’re lost in a daydream about your “knight in shining armor” in a black tuxedo, standing at the front of a church, simply waiting to take your hand as you walk up the aisle in your white gown. It’s natural to want to spend time with the one you care about, and it’s completely normal to daydream about the person you want to be with, but is it really worth letting your school work suffer for it? Contrary to popular belief, we are in high school to learn, not to fall in love. For some having a significant other can be helpful in school work, but in all reality, it can be a distraction that many high school students simply cannot afford. Another problem with relationships is sex. Yes, many high school students have sex: big surprise. Although it is possible to abstain from sex while in a relationship in high school, the truth is that many students won’t. Having sex in high school can cause many problems for those students who do not use contraceptives because as we all know, sex can lead to sexual transmitted diseases, and teen pregnancy. Even students who do use contraceptives can be distracted by many emotions associated with sex. This can affect a student’s social life and even distract him or her from school. Among the slim chances of a long-term relationship, distraction from school work, and the dangers of sex, there is another factor that is often joked about, but just as often not taken seriously: money. Whether you like it or not, having a boyfriend or girlfriend does cost money. There are dance tickets to purchase, flowers to buy, dinner and movie nights pay for, birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, and anniversaries. Need I say more? The truth is, students have a lot to pay for without a boyfriend or girlfriend: gas, lunches, insurance, and cell phones, etc. Can you really afford paying for the essentials on top of having a boyfriend or girlfriend? In the end, each individual must decide whether having a boyfriend or girlfriend would be helpful or harmful. I truly believe that some high school relationships can be valuable, but on the other hand, far more high school relationships cause more trouble than good. If you believe that you can find someone that you can be mature with, someone that will not distract you from what’s important in your high school career, by all means, date. However, if you are among the greater percentage of teenagers who will have a hard time juggling love and studies, perhaps it would be best to simply refrain for a while. Besides, you have your whole life ahead of you to fall in love. |