DEALING WITH DATING PRESSURE

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I've been thinking a lot lately about how much pressure there can be when it comes to dating in high school. it's like everyone expects you to have a boyfriend or girlfriend and if you don't, you're somehow missing out or not cool enough.

I remember when my friends first started getting into relationships, suddenly it was all they talked about, who was dating who, who was crushing on who, and all the drama that came with it. At first, I didn't care that I wasn't part of the scene but then over time, the pressure started to creep in.

It wasn’t that I didn’t like anyone or wasn’t interested in dating; it was more that I wasn’t sure I wanted to date just because everyone else was. And let's be real who wants to deal with the whole "He loves me, he loves me not" game? But when everyone around you is pairing up, it’s hard not to feel like you should be doing the same. I started wondering if something was wrong with me for not being in a relationship.

The pressure wasn’t always direct. Sometimes it was just little comments, like, “You don’t have a boyfriend? Really?” or “You should go out with him, everyone else is dating someone". It made me question whether I was making the right choice by not dating.

Reasons Why Teenagers Get Pressured Into Dating

  1. Everyone's talking about it: Relationships are a big deal in high school and are always the latest topic in the gossip mill
  2. Being left behind (BLB): when your friends are all coupled up, it's most likely that you'll get left behind
  3. Friendly pushers: You've got that one friend who's like, " You should date someone, it's about time that you stopped being a loner"
  4. Rom-com overload: TV shows, movies, and social media make it seem like everyone's living in a romantic comedy. Meanwhile, you're at home wondering what's for dinner.
  5. Wanting to fit in: It's normal to want to feel included and sometimes dating seems like the best way.
  6. Curiosity/Investigation: Sometimes you want to see what all the fuss is about.

But then I realized something important: It’s okay to go at your own pace. Just because everyone else is doing something doesn’t mean you have to, too. I had to remind myself that it’s better to be true to myself than to jump into something just because I felt pressured by others.

I also learned that real friends will respect your choices. The ones who truly care about you won’t pressure you into dating if you’re not ready or interested.

So, for anyone else out there feeling the same pressure, know that it’s okay to take your time. It’s your life, and you get to decide what’s right for you. Don’t let anyone else’s timeline dictate your own.

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