“Should I stay with my high school sweetheart?” This is a question that races through the mind of many college freshmen, whether they want to admit it aloud or not. Unfortunately, there isn’t a correct answer to this question so I asked a handful of upperclassmen – half male, half female, some who started college with a high school significant other and the others who started solo – to share their personal opinions on the subject. Here’s what they collectively agreed on:
The PROS of staying with your high school sweetheart:
• You will never feel lonely.
• There will always be someone to eat with.
• You won’t have to try new things alone.
• You will always have someone to talk to.
• The chances of feeling homesick are slim.
• “Regular sex.”
The CONS:
• You could avoid meeting new people.
• It may make your roommate uncomfortable.
• You could miss out on new opportunities.
• Jealousy problems/arguments are more prevalent as new friends are made.
• Long distance sucks (for those long-distance couples)
• You’ll spend hours talking on the phone when you could be doing something more beneficial.
• You could start to feel trapped in the relationship.
• College turns into “our experience together,” rather than your own.
As I said before, there is no right or wrong move to make when it comes to continuing a high school relationship after high school. It all depends on how you feel and what you want out of your college experience.
For the upperclassmen I asked that began college with significant others, their relationships all ended after the first year. This does not mean it will happen to everyone; I know couples that have happily exceeded these expectations. However, do realize that college is a time when people learn more about themselves, grow up, and change. Sometimes those changes break relationships.
In the end, it is solely your decision; and ultimately, you should always do what is best for you.