How highschool relationships work>

[Polo2847]

I always wondered how high school relationships worked. Some people don't even have a job yet, and don't even drive yet, but are in a relationship with someone. Aren't many of you just using up your savings money you could be using on future/college stuff? My parents always taught me that I should have a job/career, car, and about 20 years old before I get into any relationship, but that sounds like I'm being prepared for marriage. I feel like many have dated in highschool and are experienced with dating when transitioning into college. I've never been in a relationship, so I think it might be awkward having a first kiss/sex/relationship in college? It's like highschool is all fun and games, then graduation kills it because people move to different universities, and then relationships in college are much more serious, involving proposals and all that.

[Blood]

Well, all of the guys I've dated had a job, and they each had their own car. So visiting and hanging out wasn't really that hard.

Your parents aren't wrong for telling you that. I guess they just want you to be prepared. But the fact of the matter is that every teen doesn't have a job and a car, and that's not always their choice. However the lack of those things shouldn't keep you from dating. I personally will not date a guy who can't even pay for himself when we go places, because I'm not about to be paying for us everytime we go somewhere. But that might just be me.

[Cognizant]

High school dating, from my experience, isn't too expensive. When I was dating my ex, neither of us had jobs. I would take BART in or he'd come down to visit, and maybe we would borrow $20-30 from our folks for food or drink (though in reality we would buy clothes :P). In high school, I've found that you don't need to worry about finances because even if you don't have a job, your parents usually have your back.

But your parents do have some truth in what they've said because, yes, after high school it's a much different dynamic - it is a lot more serious. People mature and some realize that they can't just go spending money willy nilly on their partners. That being said, finances don't need to run the relationship. You can still have a blast by eating at a cheap hole-in-the-wall and laughing the night away with your partner and be glad that you have someone that cares for you.

[BuryYourFlame]

Highschool relationships, from a general perspective, don't work. Mostly because of the reasons you listed. I mean, people are still going to try because hormones and everything, but at 16/17 you really don't know what you're doing. Until you're around 23/4 or so you don't even really know who you are so it's pretty hard figuring out how you can relate to another person intimately.

[LifeOfLove]

High school relationships are generally pretty dysfunctional, especially at the beginning.

I started dating my current boyfriend at the end of 8th grade. We graduate from high school June 6th. So, yeah things were weird and we never did anything that cost money at first. We both got jobs as soon as we could though, began making some money and could then do things that actually cost us money.
To be honest, I'm kind of expecting a bit of a special present from him for graduation. He's been talking to my dad a lot, I wouldn't be at all surprised if I walk next week with a ring on my hand.

Also should be important to say, we both had interesting childhoods. We were both forced to grow up fast and are often thought of as being quite old for our age.


So, highschool relationships, they can suck, be nearly impossible to keep up, or you can get really really lucky. You'll never know if you don't try though.

[Camazotz]

I always wondered how high school relationships worked. Some people don't even have a job yet, and don't even drive yet, but are in a relationship with someone. Aren't many of you just using up your savings money you could be using on future/college stuff?

Yup, pretty much. Birthday/holiday money and occasional borrowing of money. Our parents drove us around before we got our licenses, and we usually just went to cheaper restaurants and movies or hung out at a park or something. It was awkward looking back at it, but it's not too big a deal that made our parents unwilling to help us out.

My parents always taught me that I should have a job/career, car, and about 20 years old before I get into any relationship, but that sounds like I'm being prepared for marriage. I feel like many have dated in highschool and are experienced with dating when transitioning into college. I've never been in a relationship, so I think it might be awkward having a first kiss/sex/relationship in college? It's like highschool is all fun and games, then graduation kills it because people move to different universities, and then relationships in college are much more serious, involving proposals and all that.

Eh, yes and no. In high-school, I felt like there was pressure that two people got along, friends pressure them to "ask them out", which is totally different from how adults date. In high-school, asking someone out meant committed relationship right then and there, whereas adults go on dates before deciding if they want to enter a committed relationship. In college, it's a hybrid of the two, so it really depends on the situation.