To My High School Boyfriend | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Relationships

To My High School Boyfriend

I did not know that I was sick, but I know now that I am better.

62
To My High School Boyfriend
Jen Jordan

It is often stated that teachers learn just as much from their students as the students learn from teachers. Being a student-teacher in my final semester of college, I often wonder where I will find proof of this. Is it in their cultural idiosyncrasies? Or their flipping water bottles on tables? Or on their political ideas regardless of the fact that they are too young to vote? Although these aforementioned things certainly come up daily, today I learned a valuable life lesson from one of my students.

Deciding I would stay a little bit after school rather than duck out, one of my students came in and asked if I would join the lead teacher in helping him revise a college essay. Though it was a Friday afternoon I decided I had nothing to lose by helping this student. So I stuck around.

The male student in my lead teacher's advanced placement literature class is an aspiring nurse. He wrote how his relationship with an ex-girlfriend had taught him valuable lessons that changed the course of his life. As the essay began I thought to myself, "I'm not sure what I will get out of this or what a college might see in this essay," but I was interested nonetheless.

The story began talking of the typical high school relationships and their drama. I laughed, thinking of my high school relationship, and nodded along as he continued to read his essay. Then he spoke of an unexpected and sudden change in his girlfriend: becoming withdrawn and unable to communicate with him. Of course, as this story is told from the male perspective, my lesson had just begun.

He was confused by her quietness. He blamed himself for their little fights. And this was just the start. He went on to give an example of how he found out that his girlfriend was ill. He took her to get an ice cream on a day in which she was very quiet and even more withdrawn then usual. He explained that after she finished her ice cream she began to cry. In her frustration, the truth came out. She had stopped loving herself. Those are the exact words that he used and those are the exact words that I used when I was her age and talking to my high school boyfriend.

I was stunned while he read the next few sentences. I had the chills. Still my lesson was only in the beginning stages, but I was learning. I was learning that what had happened throughout my relationship is in fact common. His girlfriend had severe body image issues. She could not understand how or why someone would love her when she "loved absolutely nothing about herself." Again the exact words that I had used in talking to my high school boyfriend. I knew her side of the situation; I was familiar with those feelings but what I did not know was his. Although it may not be the same for my first boyfriend I know, now, that in someway I affected him. My student spoke of confusion, of frustration, of anger that he couldn't even place upon her because she was beginning to be fragile in conversation as well as affection. What he learned was to be strong for people who needed him to be strong and that, in this case, was what she needed. He learned to be compassionate and loving.

As he writes, he learned "valuable life lessons". Despite this fact, though, they did not end up together because her health issues put too much of a strain on their romantic relationship. But what he wrote was a closing statement that served as the closure that I've always needed and never got from my own relationship. He wrote, "We remain friends today because she was healthy and happy and I was good with that."

I want to apologize for any mental strain that I put on you. I did not understand how to love anyone else when I couldn't love myself. Maybe it is wishful thinking, though I like to find the silver lining in things, that I taught you something through my illness, through my outbursts and withdrawals. Although we did not end up together, and I think that that was best for both of us, I hope that I had somewhat of a positive impact on your life, as my student's first girlfriend had on his. I am happy and I am healthy now and I hope that you are good with that.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

192930
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

16467
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

459093
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

27304
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments