Starting relationships on social media like snapchat, many students enter relationships during highschool in an effort to experience young love, but these relationships may not be to their benefit.

In my own relationship, Arrowhead Copy Editor Patrick Rother and I experience a variety of obstacles, but with communication and willingness to understand each other, obstacles can be overcome with ease.

One of the most prominent obstacles in high school relationships is how moody teens can be. Personally, mood swings can happen in the blink of an eye and I can go from a giggling, good time to a snappy, crabby brat. From this, passive aggressive comments or even just aggressive comments can arise. 

These comments can be hurtful, even when unintentional or even untrue.

Having an understanding, forgiving partner is the key to overcoming these issues, but in high school it can be difficult to find a patient companion. With pressures from high school, often both parties are under stress and there is no patience and only aggression. This can be damaging and unfulfilling to the individual, turning into a toxic relationship. 

Relationships are also very time consuming. Trying to plan for when to do homework, maintain a healthy and active lifestyle, and hang out with friends and family is hard enough on its own. A relationship piles a whole other priority into the mix. 

If the relationship isn’t overall rewarding and emotionally beneficial, it can drain time and energy out of every single day. If spending time with your partner doesn’t rejuvenate your energy and rehabilitate your mood, it likely isn’t worth the time and emotional commitment.

 Relationships are also expensive. It often seems like there is constantly an anniversary, holiday, or birthday right around the corner, stipulating the perfect mix of thoughtful gifts. And if you’re like me, you have little control when it comes to shopping in the name of love. 

Gift shopping for a partner can be stressful, but also financial pressure for teens who might be working to save for college. Without proper communication and expectations for one another, relationships can feel like a financial drain.

According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, the human brain does not stop developing until 25 years old. The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain used for decision making, and without it being fully developed, teens often struggle with decision making for the long term. 

Decision making is extremely important in relationships, from the beginning of deciding who you want to date to later down the line deciding where you want to eat dinner. Relationships are filled with decisions that teens may not be ready to make.

Overall, high school is the time to learn about yourself, not get into a relationship. If you are lucky enough to find someone that is worth the potential heartbreak, so be it. But it is more likely that your growth as a person will be stunted due to poor communication, unnecessary stress and codependency.