Taking senior relationships step by step BY HOPE CALLAGHAN Editor-in-Chief As graduation comes closer, seniors are each of us to make like an individual decision some are making plans for their future life,” starting to make plans for their future whether without considering the other one,” senior Hamilton said. “So I think it really depends on it’s working, a gap year, moving away and much Rose Hamilton said. the relationship.” more, but being in a highschool relationship Hamilton’s relationship with Josh Lim has Long distance has a bad reputation but makes things even more complicated. not prevented the couple from spreading staying close can also shake a relationship as Romance blooms in all grades at Sequoia, their wings towards different cities for college. things change from the scheduled, predictable between the freshmen we deem cringe and Although she had made it a goal to keep things highschool routine to the new paths. These immature, to the seniors that are probably just separate, it made more sense to talk it through new choices might invite change, pushing as bad. I hear people and the partners couples in different directions, or they may my age now talking used each other for reveal the strength of the partnership. about the annoying support as they made “I’d say keep your options open. If you’ve underclassmen big decisions for next really liked the person [it’s] definitely useful couples on campus People [have] expectations year. to have someone always there for you, and although I do of you either to break up or to “[As a] senior especially since you’re entering a brand new understand the continue dating and so it’s just kind we’re just like, ‘I got environment,” Lim said. hatred of public in here’ and we’re No matter the personal decision you displays of affection of interesting to see how people going into different make as a couple, people will have questions. I (PDA), it also makes view a relationship.” colleges, but we had a lot of questions as a junior about what me smile to see kept that in mind. So it was like to make “grown-up” decisions younger people Rose Hamilton, senior you’re, like, aware of about staying together but it feels a lot less making memories each other’s choices overwhelming as a senior because there is and learning things and own personal only so much that you can overthink and plan. about themselves and others. plans,” Hamilton said. “Definitely a lot of people have been Being a senior is mostly a balancing act, Now that we have arrived at senior year asking ‘what are you going to do next year?’ juggling nostalgia and preparing to leave home. and the lifestyle decisions have been finalized, ‘What’s the relationship?’ and stuff like that. It’s hard to accept that the first 18 years were couples are left to And I say, ‘we’re just a free trial before adulthood but being in a decide what comes gonna see how it highschool relationship on the edge of long- next. For some, the goes to grow out’,” distance makes it feel much more real. The decision is easy. Hamilton said. “I wide variety of choices Sequoia students face “Because I’ve think people kind I’d say keep your options when making post-highschool plans makes known them for a of act a certain open. But definitely if you’ve really way when you’re every person’s path different. Between moving while, I feel like it’s away and staying close to home, long-term not even that big of a liked the person that’s definitely a senior like they student couples are aware of the looming difference or big deal useful to have like someone always keep asking ‘what changes. if it’s like a little bit there for you [...]” are you doing I know that I, like a lot of other seniors longer, but drive to get after high school?’ in semi-long term relationships, was very to the same area. So I People [have] anxious about balancing college admissions feel like it’s generally Josh Lim, senior expectations of and my boyfriend as a junior. I was convinced just worth it and it’s you either to break that we would keep things entirely separate to going to be okay with up or to continue avoid bias and temptation to go to the same me,” senior Stephen Prado said. dating and so it’s just kind of interesting to see college. However, as the college application No one can see the future but talking how people view a relationship.” process started, it was an impossible topic to through possible next steps and brainstorming There is no wrong choice. The beauty of dodge. a plan is the only way to get ahead of the big leaving highschool and its stability is that there “When I was a junior, I was like, changes coming. are now infinite opportunities to live however, ‘we’re not going to tell each other where “I know some people are definitely not wherever and with whomever you want. we’re getting into colleges’ because I wanted going to continue after high school and
RAVEN REPORT | JUNE 2023
7