by Tiffany Hunter

Created on: September 01, 2009

Fifteen is a difficult age. You are on the brink of being adult yet too far away to have the freedom of driving. You have parents at home and teachers at school to boss you around. Not only do you have school, chores, and possibly even a part time job to worry about; but also the people at school can be mean one day, and your best friend the next. Throw on top surging hormones and your first pass at love, and any adult would be going through a major meltdown.

High school is a time when most people find their first romances. You are noticing the appeal of your fellow classmates and school dances and parties often cause a need for a date. Most likely, you will have your first relationship that is deeper than a friendship. Yes, you will care deeply for this person. You will probably even love them.

Just because you are fifteen does not mean that the feelings you have are not legitimate. The only difference between love at fifteen and love at thirty is the number of transitions that life has in store. At fifteen you still have the responsibilities of driving, voting, and drinking ahead of you; and the opportunities of college and your first career. There are more eye-opening events that are going to shape who you become and who you want to be around.

Due to all of these changes, love at fifteen rarely lasts. There are many people who were high school, even childhood sweethearts; so this is not to say that it never lasts. The important thing to remember is to not let a relationship define who you are. You do not have to do everything together, in fact, the more opportunities you take separately the more likely you will grow to respect each other and stay friends even if your relationship ends. Healthy, lasting relationships take a lot of work. As a teenager you should be enjoying life as it comes, not worrying about another human being. It may seem selfish, but that is what being a teen is all about, you!

Love at fifteen is not any different than love at any other age. It can end at any moment, or it could turn into a lifelong affair. The only difference is knowing that you need room to grow into your adult self, and that people change. Sometimes it's for the better, sometimes for the worse: but you should never stake your future on anyone but yourself.

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