Being someone who never dated in high school, my opinion may not mean that much, but once again, this is simply based on observation and analysis. Throughout all four years of high school, I had the opportunity to witness the tumultuous relationships that stemmed from dating in high school.

One of my biggest problems is that you are still learning about yourself at this age. From the ages of 13-18, you still don't truly know who you are. These years are the most pivotal in your growth as a person. Having not dated while still in high school, I was able to take that time and truly discover myself. Granted, I am still doing that in my college years, but using the four years I am still growing to learn who I am and what I want to be. I still don't know exactly who I am, but I know exactly what I want to do and who I wish to be.

Let's be honest, guys are assholes at all ages, but specifically in high school. No one is sure why, but in high school, guys are relentless when it comes to their behaviors. They will brutally pick on you, pointing out minor flaws. Many say that this is their way of flirting, but it's not. Due to societal standards, good guys are just not worth anyone's time anymore. Being the asshole seems to work for some people, but everyone assumes that once you get out of high school, you won't be able to find someone or that it is harder to date in college, which is not the case. Guys are still assholes in college, but they realize that they're not the big shots they were in high school, so they humble out a bit. Dating in college is honestly so much more fun, and you have more time to spend with them because you can make the time. Speaking of time...

For me, there was just simply no time. In high school, I was involved in a plethora of clubs and activities, giving me no time for a meaningful relationship. My senior year, I spent 90% of the spring semester at school. When I wasn't there, I was at work trying to make enough to pay for what I needed. Nowadays, many high school students require a job to support their family financially, but there is still so much pressure to find a significant other during this time, which just makes absolutely no sense.

What is the rush? How can you have a meaningful relationship in high school when you simply don't really understand yourself yet? I am extremely grateful to have found someone while away at college, but I am so glad I never dated in high school. One of my mottos in those years was by RuPaul: "If you can't love yourself, how in the hell are you going to love somebody else?" For years, I have followed and believed it, and I hope that the pressures of high school inspired students to look to this quote and believe in it just as strongly as I did.