I t begins at a party. Young Romeo pushes through the crowds of people, red cup in hand, in search of his homeboy Mercutio. He has just ended his three month relationship with his girlfriend Rosaline, so he isn’t in the mood for partying. The thumping bass is giving him a headache and there are too many freshmen at this party.

Just ashe is leaving he sees her, dancing with her girlfriends in the living room.

Their gazes meet from across the room, and he tips the brim of his baseball hat in her direction. She smiles. That’s when Romeo knows that he has found his Juliet.

Whether at a party, in fourth period gym, or way back in elementary school, in some level or variation this is how it starts. Relationships, either long or short term, are a common element in the typical high school experience. With millions of block buster hits with subjects dedicated to dramas of teenage relationships, dating in high school has become the norm. Some of these unions last for 15 minutes in a secluded bedroom during a party, and some even last all four years of high school. A slim few might even make it through college. But at an age where experimentation is the theme of the dating scene, sticking together can be challenging.

According to Dana Silberstein, a counselor, high school love birds are motivated to stay together not only for the sake of true love, but also for a sense of security.

“In high school, where everything is new and confusing and you’re still trying to figure yourself out, it’s comforting to have someone constant there to support you. Teenagers tend to seek that sense of stability to help them navigate the unknown, so it makes perfect sense that they would look for that in a girlfriend or boyfriend” says Silberstein.

Silberstein also maintains that the steady foundation a long term relationship provides a teenager can only protect them up to a certain extent.

“If the two individuals start to depend on one another and retreat into the safety bubble of their relationship and stop looking outward and gaining new experiences, then the relationship ceases to be healthy. The whole point of dating when you’re young is to learn about how you relate with other people. If you seclude yourself to only one person throughout high school, then you are denying yourself the learning experiences that come from dating lots of people” says Silberstein.

The majority of students seem to be on the constant lookout for prospective partners, hence the excitement that comes with winter dances and Valentine’s Day. It is fair to assume that long term relationships are the minority. But the exceptions still make themselves apparent, even lasting over a year. Such is the case for Garfield High School senior Wilson Platt and junior Olivia Carlson.

Platt had no problem committing to Carlson, his girlfriend of 14 months. Dating since the September of last year, the couple has experienced highs and lows but ultimately has determined that they are better off together. They maintain that their relationship is not based off of co-dependency, citing their mutual respect for one another’s individualities.

“If I hadn’t ever met Wilson and I didn’t know what it was like to be with him, then life would obviously go on. It’s not as if by having him in my life I’m complete. I’m so happy to be with him, but I would be fine if we had never happened,” says Olivia.

Platt concurs, explaining his perspective on the reason they are able to maintain a healthy and non-clingy relationship: “We stay together because we genuinely care for each other. It’s past the point of just being excited that the other person actually likes you back. It’s the kind of caring where I would forget about my feelings to put hers first.”

Though the couple strives to maintain a balance between individuality and a relationship, they admit that to a certain extent they depend on one another.

“It’s not like you rely on the person’s happiness, but their moods do affect yours. If they’re happy, you feel good. If they’re sad, then you worry and you’ll try anything to make them feel better. So in that sense you do need each other” says Olivia.

The effect Wilson and Olivia’s moods have on one another seems mild compared to Sarah*, whose two-year relationship recently ended.

“I felt like I always had to have [my boyfriend] around. I was always worrying about if he was mad at me or whether or not he still wanted to be with me. I always needed him to tell me he loved me so I could relax,” says Sarah.

Sarah believes that the reason her relationship ended was because it was too intense.

“At this age I don’t want to feel like I need anyone. In high school you’re supposed to play the field and not be tied down to one person. You’re supposed to be exploring or whatever. Right now I’m still figuring out what commitment even means.”

Whether because of a desire for consistency or genuine affection for one another, Romeos will always find a way to defy the odds to be with their Juliets. As for whether it’s worth it, Silberstein has this to say: “If you are surprised every day by what your partner teaches you and are happy with where you are in life, then by all means stay together. If not, then it is time to move on.”