High school. These four years entrap the peak of the transitioning from the teenage years to adulthood; with this comes self-discovery, academic achievement, and of course, relationships. To a hormonal teenage girl or boy, being in a romantic relationship may feel like the most important thing in the world. While sacrificing everything for the sake of a relationship may work out well in movies like Twilight, that is not the case in the real world. Romantic involvement can actually heavily weigh down a student in their academic endeavor, whether or not they realize it.

Being so young and new to such strong feelings, many students willingly dedicate themselves to a person single the name of love. Yes that’s right, love. In a survey conducted by StageofLife.com, 61% of high school students claim they have been or are in love. While some may find the concept of young love appealing, this infatuation can lead to blatant disregard of other more important responsibilities. Due to the seemingly imperativeness of being together, students will do whatever it takes to hang out with their boyfriend/girlfriend, even if it means cutting into study, club, or homework time. As a result, their grades can and will feel the negative impacts resulting from a lack of prioritization. Numerous studies have made note of this- students in a romantic relationship are more likely to notice a decrease in their grades, and that is the harsh reality of dating in high school.

With the competitiveness of acceptance into college at an all-time high, it is absolutely crucial for this generation to be dedicated to their studies. Each adolescent needs to be willing to do whatever it takes in order to succeed, even if it means casting aside their romantic desires. Expectations have been raised, and there’s no room for error.