Would you sacrifice your high school years just because you’re dating someone in college? Would you settle for a community college because your boyfriend or girlfriend is still in high school? Age does matter in a relationship, not just because of the number, but because of the things you are going through.
Dating someone older comes with extra complications and unnecessary drama. Someone older than you is likely to have more bills to pay, a job to upkeep, and more stress in their life. While you might be living it up your senior year, barely sleeping, hanging out with friends, and just sleeping the weekend away, your significant other is probably doing just the opposite.
If a high school student is dating a college student they usually have to rely on seeing each other over the weekends, (if that) and when they are on break. Maintaining a job and college life for him or her and trying to balance high school life and trying to mesh the two schedules together, is probably not that easy.
All those romantic dates and movies you hoped to go on? They are all replaced with cheap Kraft macaroni and cheese and flat diet coke in his parents’ basement or cheap apartment. Having his or her family fall in love with you and invite you to everything? Probably not likely either (unless you’re super lucky), his or her parents are probably uneasy about their son or daughter dating a silly, unpredictable high school student. Insecurity and unpredictability also come with dating someone older; while a high school student wants to hang out with friends, the older person is going to college parties, which makes some feel insecure and worried.
The younger person in the relationship may feel like they don’t measure up at times, which can also cause fights and lead to other various issues.
Dating someone younger also has its deal of problems. The maturity level may not be the same. Someone younger tends to be more selfish, less committed and overall “relationship ignorant”. Age of consent laws are also something to consider while dating someone younger, so check this website out first http://www.ageofconsent.com/michigan.htm.
Boys and girls who are younger don’t always know what they want and aren’t always going to take what you say or do seriously. One person may get hurt, due to the maturity difference, because you are just on different pages of your life. While you are going to college in the fall, leaving your boyfriend or girlfriend behind, you become lonely and sad because you’re used to seeing them all the time. And how would they understand how busy you are? You’re sleep- deprived and constantly working with no personal time! How in the world would someone younger understand your stress level with college classes and staying up all night for that final exam? They wouldn’t have a clue.
So, tell yourself, this is the time to be selfish and do what makes you happy, go out and just go for it!
And remember, if you babysit and they have kids, stay away! And if you have a full time job, and they get an allowance, also, stay away! Age is not just a number; it shows where you’ve been and your future ahead.
