titan shield - San Marino High School

6
OPINION
Are relationships in high school beneficial?
No, relationships are more harmful than helpful and are not worth it.
Yes, relationships are important in the development of young adults.
By Rebecca Quan
Staff Writer
rquan.titanshield@gmail.com
One of the most significant aspects of
teen life today is relationships. However,
among all of these partnerships, one type
seems to stand out from all the others--the
romantic relationship. Even though having a
romance in high school might seem like fun
and games, it can distract one from school
and may leave emotional as
well as physical scars.
R o m a n t i c
relationships can
take attention away
from more important
things such as school.
Scholastic, one of the
largest book publishing
companies in the United
States, urges parents to talk
to their children about dating,
as it takes time and attention
away from schoolwork. When
distracted, one bad grade leads to
another, and soon it is too late to change
it around. Such cases damage the chances
of better class placement in the future
years of high school, which affects college
acceptances, and in the long run, the chance
at a successful future. In short, allowing a
romance to take priority over academics can
jeopardize one’s future. No romance should
ever take precedence over one’s future.
Though all relationships have their
moments of initial bliss, this period of
happiness does not last forever. A messy
break-up can leave one or both parties
emotionally scarred. It thus becomes more
difficult for people to trust when proceeding
into another relationship. Since trust is one of
the most important things in life, preserving
it is parmount for one’s self-confidence and
emotional well-being. Breaking up can also
lead to a lack of self-confidence, depression,
and perhaps suicide. Seemingly harmless
flirtations also cause emotional destruction
and pain. With hormones running amok,
teenagers’ emotions are fragile and easily
manipulated.
However, relationships do not merely
cause emotional problems. In addition
to emotional scars, abusive relationships
can also leave physical scarring that last
a lifetime. Numerous relationships begin
well, but later morph into physically
abusive partnerships. In fact, one in three
h i g h schoolers knows a
friend
or peer that has
been physically
injured in some
way or another
by their partner,
according to the
Liz Claiborne
Incorporated
Study about dating
violence. High
schoolers can contract
sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs) and face
unwanted pregnancies if they
engage in sexual activitives.
Some STDs, like HIV, last a
lifetime and can eventually turn into
AIDS, which kills about 3,100,000 people
worldwide a year, according to the Yale Aids
Watch. About 850,000 teenage girls become
pregnant every year, as seen on MTV’s 16
and Pregnant, Youth Noise states. Indeed,
pregnancy is a very real problem that many
teenage girls confront today.
High school is an important part of a
person’s life. It is a time for laying the
groundwork of the future, gaining maturity,
and striving for academic excellence. A
romantic relationship can greatly distract
someone from his or her goals, as well
as cause mental and physical pain and
academic stagnation. In short, high school
students should not pursue a relationship
until they have the mental maturity to handle
the possible pain.
By Stephen Au
Opinion Editor
sau.titanshield@gmail.com
When someone talks about high school,
one of the first things that come to mind is
teenagers running rampant on hormones.
In high school, people see relationships
everywhere they turn. Despite what parents
may desire of their children, the fact is that
relationships are not the distraction that
many assume them to be. In fact, being in a
relationship provides a shoulder to lean
on, improves academic growth, and
strengthens social skills.
Many believe that having
a boyfriend or girlfriend
requires intimacy. While that
may sometimes be the case,
what one may not realize is
that being in a relationship is
mainly about providing
support to one another. For
example, in tough times, one
can emphathize with their boyfriend
or girlfriend. According to the Planned
Parenthood, a non-profit international
sex education federation, a healthy
relationship includes “respect, honesty
and trust, fairness and equality, and good
communication.” Whether helping out
with personal problems or pouring out the
details of their day, people in a relationship
will have a significant other that is willing
to listen and be there in times of need.
Relationships can also boost academic
progress. It is very likely that a high
school student will meet a suitable match
during class. After these two people enter a
relationship, they can help each other with
classroom homework because they share
the same classes.
While having emotional support and
improved academic progress may not last
towards the end of a relationship, the social
skills that one gains through a relationship
are undoubtedly the most important part
of a relationship. According to Dr. Betty
Osman of the National Center of Learning
Disabilities, “Learning to successfully
interact with others is one of the most
important aspects of a child’s development,
with far-reaching implications.”
Relationships also help teenagers
develop important social skills and selfconfidence.
For example, trust is an
important skill that must be learned in
the future as well. Also, if one is truly in
a passionate relationship with another,
then intimacy is another skill that these
individuals require. Intimacy
is a skill that will always
be used in society. In
addition to this, the
NASP, or National
Association of School
Psychologists states
that, “Students with poor
social skills have been
shown to experience difficulties
in interpersonal relationships with
parents, teachers, and peers.” Even
if a relationship does not work out, the
consequences of a relationship cannot
be regarded as a stigma, but rather, a
lesson. People will learn from their
mistakes, and they must learn to move
on with their lives. After getting over an
ex, people can realize that they are strong
enough to overcome such emotional pain.
Undeniably, opposite sexes will
be attracted to each other throughout
life, whether in high school or during
adulthood. Even if parents do have more
experience than their kids by far, it should
be up to teenagers to have a relationship.
However, the benefits of a relationship far
outweigh the potential problems that may
occur. Being in a relationship provides for
an understanding ear, greater academic
achievement, and better social skills.
Teenagers should be encouraged to engage
in relationships in order to benefit their
own well-being and happiness.
Should High School Students Be in a Relationship?
Ryan Chiu, Sophomore:
“Relationships mess people up because
they’re extremely distracting.”
Tiffany Shan, Junior:
“I think they’re interesting because
even if it can be a distraction, it can
also be extremely fun.”
Harrison Chiao, Junior:
“They’re [relationships] good if you can
maintain other things like academics.”
Hepsy Zhang, Freshman:
“No, they’re [relationships] bad,
because it really distracts people from
studies and such.”
Xavier Kenevan, Sophomore:
“No, because I think it’s pity love
because most of the time it doesn’t
last very long through life-changing
events like college.”
Are High School Relationships Beneficial?
No, relationships are more
harmful than helpful and
are not worth it.
36%
Yes, relationships are an
important asset in the
development of a young adult.
TITAN SHIELD SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
64%