Navigating High School Romance for Valentine’s Day

Love begins to spur in the air as the year’s day of red hearts and sweet chocolate approaches. A celebration of love, friendship, and admiration, Valentine’s Day blends feelings of excitement,anticipation— and perhaps some anxiety— amongst high schoolers. 

Such a day at Lawrenceville ultimately brings up a conversation about high school relationships. On the one hand, exchanging Valentine’s and getting sweet gifts and cards sounds exciting. On the other, the question of whether or not your crush knows you exist looms in the back of your mind—or worse, what if they do but are busy with someone else? Sure, the themed House events such as Steve Roses or the McLovin’ Dance set a mood, but what does real high school romance look like when juggling classes, sports, friendships, and the pressure of “who’s dating who?” 

As a young student, high school romance can feel like an unrelatable concept. It is common to have little experience if not none, so it seems there is always an awkward atmosphere that accompanies the traditional Valentine’s Day excitement. Ethan Lee ’27 usually does not look forward to Valentine’s Day because he was never in a relationship during that time. This year, however, he is anticipating it, calling the day a “good opportunity” for people to gain the courage to express their emotions. He believes that high school romance is a good learning experience for the future—an opportunity to navigate human interactions in different contexts of relationships. 

Martina Yanovich ’26 enjoys Valentine’s Day because she is simply happy to celebrate love and adores its typical pink and red color scheme. Last year, she was surprised with roses and chocolate at the back entrance of her House, a lovely and memorable moment. As a part of the McClellan House, Yanovich is excited for the McLovin’ Dance. The Housemates will be wearing matching t-shirts, and according to Yanovich,  this year’s design is especially cute. She is also performing at the School’s annual Broadway Cabaret, which traditionally takes place on Valentine’s Day. Overall, Yanovich believes high school relationships can be great, as they provide someone to rely on and cherish. 

Despite the cherishable memories that can be made through high school relationships, maintaining these bonds can be especially challenging at such a competitive school. Ethan Zhu ’26 finds high school romance as a factor that may “negatively impact academics and focus in general.” Given Lawrenceville’s stressful environment, “having someone to rely on is always nice,” but Zhu prefers to find solace in his friends. Indeed, it is a common belief that dating can lead to lower grades. Adding more things to care about—outside of academics and activities—is challenging, especially for students who are still figuring out balance. 

Sonia Shum ’27 echoes Zhu’s sentiments. She describes high school relationships as potentially “distracting” or “time-consuming” if you don’t set good boundaries. She has avoided relationships before because of this very reason, but she also believes that it is possible to “make them work” if people communicate effectively and build understanding. While Shum typically does not have plans for Valentine’s Day, she still thinks it is a cute and great opportunity to appreciate the people around you.

As most things in the world do, high school relationships have their roses and thorns. Balance is always an important factor. Whether it be a busy schedule or an issue with miscommunication, the outcomes of high school romance depend on how you skillfully navigate your priorities while respecting your partner. Everyone has their own experiences and perspectives that may influence their choices throughout this journey, so it is difficult to categorize them as either right or wrong. However, there is no doubt that the gratitude and feelings we have for someone should be celebrated, and that is why Valentine’s Day exists. So if you haven’t made plans yet, and are too scared to make the move, always remember this: on February 14th, you are not alone! Thousands of people across the globe will be sharing their love and appreciation, so stop waiting and buy those flowers for the person who just popped into your mind. After all, its just high school.