It’s graduation time for high school seniors.  As these young adults finish their high school careers, they’re forced to make important life decisions such as what to study, what careers to consider, where to live, and how to live independently.  For couples, the status of their current relationship must be taken into account.  

  Short-term couples may consider breaking up before they move away to college.  Long-term couples or couples who plan on going to the same school may decide to stick with their current partner and see how long they can stay together.  

  What about the couples who are going to different colleges and pursuing different careers?  Many will argue that long-distant relationships are not beneficial in any way and are seen as taboo.  The social construct that long-distant relationships should not be pursued pressures those in long-distant relationships; after all, “only 2% of couples are high-school sweethearts,” according to The Huffington Post.

  Rachael Goldstein is a senior at Mountain Vista High School who is one of the 14 million others who consider herself in a long-distant relationship, according to Long Distance Relationship Statistics.  She’s been dating her boyfriend who lives in Belgium for roughly two years.  Technology plays a huge roll in her relationship, as she Skypes and communicates via messaging apps daily.

  Although she’s perfectly content in her relationship, Goldstein feels pressure from her friends and family. She said, “This relationship isn’t seen as normal…in their eyes this is risky and out of the ordinary.”

  Going off to college doesn’t make Goldstein nervous, even though experts say she should be.  Most high-school relationships experience a phenomenon called the “turkey drop.”  This phenomenon states that most “high school-to-college relationships are most likely to dissolve around Thanksgiving time,” according to NBC News.

Incoming college freshmen are oftentimes overwhelmed with their first semester away from home.  Each student navigates their first semester away differently, and oftentimes neglect keeping in touch with friends from high school and even their partner.

Shawna Doughten, a freshman in college, continues to talk with her boyfriend of five years.  She stays positive and talks to her boyfriend every other day to keep the relationship as normal as possible.  Doughten said, “If you see a future with the one you love, then that’s all you should be thinking about.”

  Staying with a partner throughout college is difficult, especially when the distance is significant.  There are many ways couples can make their relationship work, but it take effort, trust, confidence and communication.  The reality of becoming “high-school sweethearts” is limited, but can be possible.

Cydney Jardine, Guest Reporter