Amor

By Stephanie Gonzalez

    Do you remember sitting around after school, watching Saved by the Bell, the show about Bayside high and the teens that went there? Based on a survey of 25 students relationships today are completely different from the ones portrayed on TV back then. The survey explored: why people get into relationships, why people discourage from relationships, what is considered to be a healthy relationship, and the differing views teens have on the length of relationships.

    ;There are so many reasons why people get involved in relationships, other then the obvious fact of being attracted to someone. Some teens seek a relationship in order to compensate for love they don't receive from a parent. Some teens get "hooked up" for the sake of having somebody. Seeing friends with their boyfriend or girlfriend can make a person feel self-conscious about being "lonely". Also common with teens is being pressured into a relationship because of friends. Some people do what they feel will please or make their friends happy.

    ;There are so many reasons for starting a relationship but there are just as many for discouraging one, (of course there are the people who just rather fly solo). Many people might ask what could possibly be so hard about starting a relationship? If you have been in a relationship and had a bad experience it may prevent you from entering into a new one. Not only do you fear getting hurt but you might not also want to risk hurting the person you want to be with. For others it is a lack of experience that turns them away from relationships. This can be attributed to nervousness, the pressure of being with a more experienced partner, or living up to the others expectations. These concerns can really make a person think twice about their feelings. Other times it's just plain fear, fear of being hurt or not fitting the profile.

    Lets talk about our views on relationships. From a high school student's perspective there are many on how relationships should be. So to set the record straight, messing around is not a relationship. A relationship is much more then that. It's about trust, respect, fun and caring. It's also about being with someone you want to share your feelings with. These elements are necessary for a strong relationship. In addition every relationship should start off as a friendship. One thing that a relationship should never be is abusive. An abusive relationship isn't just physical it can also be emotionally, when a person takes advantage of the other making them feel inferior. How was can you truly care for a person if you're constantly hurting them?

    Every person has a different view on how long a relationship should last. There are people who believe that a couple lasts forever. Others prefer short relationships because commitment is not what they may want. Some people just want to run to the door when they hear the words "together forever". It is advisable take a relationship day by day, Don't think to much about what tomorrow will bring focus on having a healthy relationship today.

    As you can see there are many misconceptions about teenage relationships. Relationship are not as easy as they are portrayed on television, they have their ups and downs. There are no right or wrong relationships. Everyone has his or her own needs which are usually different from others. Next time your considering to get involved in relationships, think about the reasons why your getting involved, and most important determine if you are ready tostart a healthy relationship with another.