10 Lessons I Learnt From Dating Around In High School

My high school relationships were kind of like this sentence – I did them wrong, never knew where they were gonna go, or when they would finish, in fact, some of them just dragged on and on and on and on and I broke many accepted rules just to make them happen in the first place and they usually just ended with someone getting bored.

Fortunately, I learned a lot from my mistakes and you lot can all learn from them rather than making them yourselves. Enjoy!

1. Tell them how you feel, before you tell their friends

Don’t confide in their friends looking for advice. Come on.

If you tell your little secret to one of the closest friends of the love of your life, you know exactly who’s gonna be hearing it before you get a chance to tell them yourself. Not a good idea.

2. Don’t cut out your friends

Remember who your mates are and keep spending time with them. As much as this love feels like it’s gonna last forever, there’s a chance that it might not – so don’t forget who your real friends are. If you put all your eggs into one basket and that basket ends up falling apart, you’re going to have to go crawling back to your mates as one big, miserable, egg-less mess.

3. You don’t need to broadcast your feelings to the world

I know you just wanna share the joy of loving someone and being loved back with everyone you see. But nobody wants to spend three seconds of their twenty-minute-long Instagram scroll looking at a picture of your partner doing something adorable. They want to see a baby monkey riding backwards on a pig. 🐷

4. Don’t date someone from your own high school

Controversial, I know. But the old saying “don’t crap where you eat” isn’t limited to just the workplace. This can get even worse if you date someone in your class. And even worse again if you date someone inside your friend circle. It’s all fun and games until the crap hits the fan. Then it’s tears, drama, accusations, and choosing sides amongst your own friends.

@elodiesmyth #girlynight #fyp ♬ original sound - Elodie Smyth

5. Don’t date your friend’s ex, or your ex’s friends

I did both. At the same time. 😵‍💫

Do I really need to explain why this is a bad idea?

6. Remember who you are

What’s that weird word that starts with an ‘h’?

Hexagon? Handkerchief? Hopscotch?

No, wait. HOBBIES!

Similar to point two above, you should remember not only your mates, but your hobbies. The things that make you you. The moment you start sacrificing the things you used to love just to be with the one you love, things are entering unhealthy territory. Keep your passions, it’s probably what made your love fall for you in the first place.

7. Don’t date through Year 12

Another controversial one, I know. But we’ve spoken about this before and it’s honestly not a bad idea to consider calling things off for your final year at school. Love conquers all, I know, and the ATAR isn’t everything. But not realising your full potential isn’t a good time either.

8. Be careful with sending nudes

Did someone say controversial?

This study says that you’ll probably send nudes, so make sure you’re careful about who you’re sending them to and under what circumstances. There’s a chance they could be seen by eyes they were never intended for, and a chance they could get you into trouble. On top of that, if you’re not 18 yet it’s also illegal to send or receive nudes. So have fun - but take caution and read up on our tips for safe sexting.

@yoleendadong If you do this please tag me so I can see 😂 #panbooty #snap #mycrush #foryou #fyu #squats #fitnessgoal ♬ original sound - xxtristanxo

9. Don’t date someone just to make someone else jealous

Make sure you’re going out with someone for all the right reasons. If your trying to make an ex jealous, or just dating them to piss off your mates, then you’re doing it all wrong. In fact, that’s a terrible thing to do. You’re gonna end up hurting the person your dating, your ex, maybe your friends and deep down, probably yourself.

Love for love and love alone. If that’s not a saying yet, it will be soon.

10. It’s not the end of the world

It’s not the end of the world, it’s having no impact on the world and there’s a good chance you won’t remember a thing about it in twenty years’ time.

It’s a strange concept. That this person who is literally your everything right now might, in twenty years’ time, be a faint memory you can barely recall. But it happens. So, enjoy your love, work at it, be the best damn boyfriend or girlfriend you can be. Feel the elation of loving and the joy of being loved and feel the pain and despair that comes with being broken-hearted.

It’s all real and it’s all happening, no doubt. But it’s most likely just a small part in a long, exciting life you are mostly yet to lead, so try to just enjoy the ride for what it is and while it lasts. 

Now that I'm on a roll with these lessons, I might as well give ya one more lmao. See, something I wish I knew about in high school was superannuation. Legit.

That's why Year13  teamed up with Aware Super to run you through what super is, how it works, and how taking a few mins to think about your super can have a huuuge impact on your later life, and the world. And THAT'S the goss. You can find this Academy here!!(You're welcome 😉)