The idea of a relationship seems simple when you are in kindergarten and a boy is on his knee with a ring pop asking you to marry him. You think, “This is it,” and do not blink an eye at how the rest of it will go. Both of you do not know what it means, but you agree to it anyway because it is what you have seen before. But as you get older, your perception of the easiness of love starts to cloud. For example, when you are asked out at 16 and you think this could be the person you will spend the rest of your life with. And while many go on to be high school sweethearts, it is not as easy as it sounds, considering the factors that come with young love.

   Flash forward to high school where the pressures of finding a relationship are at an all-time high and those visions of what love will look like have faded. This could be due to a lack of communication. 

   Assuming you are dating someone without asking them is a bad way to start the relationship because you are starting without communication. I would be weirded out if the person I was hanging out with just assumed we were dating without mentioning it. You two hang out and they planned a celebration when you thought you were just friends. Imagine how awkward the first anniversary would be. That is why communication is key, by not communicating, misunderstandings happen and no one wants that.  

   Another landmine of young relationships is saying “I love you. Any time before the six-month point (and that is a stretch) is ridiculous. Do not get me wrong, I love love and all of the feelings that come with it, but unless you were friends before, saying those powerful three words before a good amount of time is baffling. 

   I am a sucker for people’s love language, but there is a line that can be crossed when it comes to one of them, physical touch. If I start dating someone, I would feel a little uncomfortable if they were extremely touchy when the relationship is in its infancy. I understand the whole “honeymoon phase” but especially because we are so young and in the uncertainty of high school, going too fast can be a scary thing.

   What is even worse is when you consider other  factors of young love:  jealousy and insecurity issues. For example, if you are not in a relationship and your boundaries are still being crossed. I would not appreciate it if a problem arose because my partner was insecure in our relationship. For example, if there was an argument because they thought I was flirting with someone else but in reality, they misinterpreted it because of their insecurities. With communication comes trust, and with young love, it can be easy for that to get blurred. 

   If one has the pleasure to experience young love, make the most of it. But consider making the time to spend with your first love pleasant and easy, so when they look back twenty years later, they will remember that time with love. In relationships, mutual respect and support is what makes a relationship beneficial for both parties.