When you get to college and you tell people that you're still dating your high school boyfriend, many people will try to tell you that you're making a mistake. It's funny, right? I mean, imagine this: It's your first day of Freshman year and one of your hallmates asks you who you're looking to hook up with when you all go out tonight. When you respond, she quickly gives you her input on how she doesn't think the relationship will last. She'll say, "Well, just look at the statistics. Less than 2% of all marriages are actually to a high school sweetheart."

Wait. Since when am I a statistic? I met this girl five minutes ago.

If you're like me, rage might fill your body while you begin to blurt out reasons for why she's wrong. Honestly, your hallmate might be right. The odds of your relationship actually lasting into marriage might be less than 2%. But, quite honestly, your relationship is in even more trouble if you actually believe her.

Dating your high school boyfriend can be challenging, especially if you decide to go to different schools. But, for me, continuing to date my high school boyfriend in college is one of the best decisions I've ever made. We're coming up on our two-year dating anniversary next month and are stronger than ever. We've survived people telling us we won't last, going to separate schools and long-distance, and lots of people questioning our relationship along the way. We've been through almost two years of birthdays, holidays, and meeting families. In July 2016, we started a little family of our own and adopted two baby kittens.

The trick to keeping someone in your life, despite everyone around you trying to tell you that your relationship won't last is actually really simple. Don't listen to them. If you tune those people out, you can really start to listen to the person who really matters: your partner. The other person in your relationship matters so much more than bystanders. Ultimately, these people mean nothing. Are you really the kind of person to let people you hardly know have a say in your relationship?

My high school boyfriend is my best friend, my biggest admirer, and one of my absolute favorite people to talk to. I love him so much, and can't imagine my life without him. If you're in a high school relationship and going to college soon, I strongly advise you to ask yourself if you think he's worth going the extra mile for. If there's even the slightest chance that your answer to that question is yes, do it. What do you have to lose?

This article is dedicated to my high school boyfriend. Thanks for two years of absolute euphoria. From Prom to college, you've always had my back. I love you!