Relationships are like cookies. Sometimes they make you feel better about yourself and then other times, they make your stomach hurt. They can either be great downfalls in one’s life or the best things that could have ever occurred. Oftentimes, teenagers and adults debate whether or not teens should be in relationships in high school. Some adults seem to think that a teenager cannot be in love when in high school. While that is their opinion, I believe a high school love may be what teaches one to love later in life and “actually” fall in love.

From the experience of being in a relationship while in high school, I had to learn how to balance my feelings and other priorities in life. There were cases when balancing family, school, extra curricular activities, and a boyfriend became hard. But the joy in a struggle is the lesson. Being in a relationship with someone while being in high school taught me how to decipher which things were priorities and which were simple pleasures.

In some cases, teenagers are too sheltered and are hindered from experiences that could be the difference in the person they turn out to be later in life. In no form or fashion am I dictating how a parent should raise their children, but from my own observations, overly sheltered teens are more likely to either not be prepared for life after high school or lack balance in their life.

Yet although parents and other adults around the school may not understand each specific situation, some of what they say is very valuable. I disagree with the argument that we’re too young to be in a relationship, but when it comes down to being mature in situations and making good choices, a relationship should not affect those negatively. Sometimes, being in a relationship can change one’s outlook and it is ultimately up to them whether the change is for better or worse.

An interference of a priority in someone’s life may not cause an equal interferance in someone else’s life. Simply because of the varying personalities, responsibilities and levels of maturity, some teenagers can handle such situations that others cannot. Since a potential interference is not considered to interfere until it has negaively affected something vital to life, as responsible teenagers, we have to learn to make good choices. If we are going to hold each other up in arguments to whether we, as teenagers, are responsible enough, it is paramount to uphold a positive reputation amongst our generation by being responsible and making wise decisions.

A problem with our generation is that many girls are insecure due to a loss or void of love. This causes many to search for love in other places which is often the reason for an urge to be with someone in high school. Another common situation is to just want someone to support you through things that family or teachers cannot. Also, a relationship can simply be to enjoy the bliss of being with someone that understands the way that you think and is able to laugh with you whenever you need them to.

Though there are many perks of being in a relationship, depending on the outlook of the person, it can cause some people to behave poorly in other areas of life when things go wrong in their relationship. Then there is the circumstance of finding what you like and not compromising for partial happiness.

This is why relationships are like cookies: Even if I love chocolate chip, and it worked for me one day, I can’t expect for a snicker doodle with chocolate chips to do the same thing for me. Relationships are just one of those things in a teenager’s life that help build character and form who they will be in the future.

High school is the time to live, the time to make mistakes and learn from everything. Lessons come from experience and all experiences are not the products of great factors. If you never taste a bad cookie, it would be difficult to appreciate and enjoy a delectable one.