In middle school, students often have an unspoken longing to be valued and wanted. But in the end, should students look for romance at such a young age?

Students might look for a relationship because they want someone to provide them with ongoing affection and attention. Yet when students are still in their early teen years, they might jump into something that they are not ready for, leading to regretful outcomes.

“The lope of our brain that makes rational decisions isn’t fully developed until we’re 25-years old,” said 8th-grade teacher, Mrs. Schemenauer. “I think an adult romantic relationship is two people that understand more what they value and what they believe, so they make better choices.”

Being in a relationship also affects a student’s daily life. A study from the University of Georgia evaluated that students are four times more likely to drop out of high school and demonstrated poor study skills when they were dating in middle school.

“We’re all immature, so we all say dumb things, [and] do dumb things, [which can] get in the way of school work and other engagements,” said 7th grader, Dylan C.

A romantic relationship takes a lot of responsibility and maturity. Are early teens really ready for a commitment like this?

“I think it’s natural and normal that [dating] makes you feel good, but it’s only a temporary feeling. And the chances of that good feeling coming from reassurance that someone has an interest is [big]. We all just want to be valued and loved,” said Mrs. Schemenauer.

Yet students may be driven into a romantic relationship as a result of pressure from their peers. When it seems that all of your friends have a girlfriend or boyfriend, it might be easy to feel left out.

“People get into a relationship sometimes because of peer pressure from their friends, even if they don’t really like that person,” said 7th grader, Mary F. (더 보기…)