“You are too young to know what love is!” or “You are not old enough to start planning a future together”. We all have heard these sayings numerous times from family members, friends and even strangers. Society frames the idea of having to “be the right age” in order to fall in love. If you are under that specific age, then apparently we cannot fully grasp the concept of love. But what is the right age? When you have graduated college, have a job and are financially stable? Or is it when you find the right person and you fall in love with them? But the real question is why does there have to be a specific age to fall in love?

Starting my sophomore year of high school, I met a guy who turned my world upside down. We had met through a mutual friend and went to different schools. Because we did not live super close, we did not really know one another so we had texted for about three months until we actually met in person. Since we had talked for a while before starting a relationship, we were able to get to know each other better. After going on a few dates for the next two months, we made it official the day after Valentine’s Day. At the age of fifteen and being in my first relationship, I was extremely nervous. I remember I would always get butterflies when I would see him. He made me feel special, beautiful and safe. One and a half short months later, I fell in love with him, and I fell hard. Still to this day, I remember where we were, the thoughts that were running a million miles per hour in my head, and how I felt. I believe when you know, you know. And that is when I knew that I loved him. Yes, we were young and yes we fell in love very fast but I know that it is real because three years later, and he still gives me the same butterflies!

Falling in love at a young age taught me a lot about life and about myself. It has taught me to value every day and to never take things for granted. It taught me that love does exist in the world and that it can be wonderful. It taught me that I can love another person more than anything else in the world and it taught me how to care for another person.

Although we are only nineteen, we have created goals and plans for our future together. We both but one hundred percent into our relationship in order to make it better every day. We motivate, care, support and love each other through thick and thin. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I am glad that I met him at such a young age. Falling in love so young is great because you are able to grow individually but also together. Of course, people have doubts that young love may not work out, but I am a big believer that it is a wonderful and rare thing that teaches you about life, yourself and the true meaning of love!

“Because of you, I laugh a little harder, cry a little less, and smile a lot more.” – Unknown