Love is a blossom: it’s soft and gentle. While getting closer to your last year of high school, you may carry the burden of how things will work out if you and your partner go to different schools, but what if I told you that you didn’t have to worry about this burden? In this article, you will see the research behind what make “High School Sweethearts” and tips for long-distance relationships after senior year.
The Research Behind High School Sweethearts
Everyone wishes to have a high school sweetheart. They see themselves showing photos to their future kids of their relationship during their youth. The statistics behind high school sweethearts may seem chilling, as roughly 30% of high school sweethearts last a few years post-graduation. A whopping 2% of these couples actually make it to the marriage stage. Though it’s not impossible to reach this achievement, let’s get into what can make or break these couples.
Couple’s therapy and research suggest that identity formation, limited life experience, and distance/transition can break these relationships. As teenagers, we often struggle with what we want for our future, whether it be a career path or growth leading to a potential change in direction for both partners if they don’t have the same goals. Limited life experience can cause more stress as you are expected to do “adulting” after receiving your diploma. With no guidance, it can be hard to maintain the balance between your relationship and independence. The distance and transition to different colleges can cause strain on your relationship if you don’t maintain a proper connection.
Nobody wants to have just memories of their love, so let’s talk about what can help strengthen your relationship in the long run.
What can we be “High School Sweethearts”?
After recognizing the low odds in lasting high school love, you may be overwhelmed at this point. However, according to therapists for couples, there are three key rules to maintaining the title of “High School Sweethearts”. These 3 rules are strong communication skills, shared goals and values, and, lastly, support systems.
The journey is near. Seniors leave soon. So how can you make sure that distance doesn’t get in the way of your relationship?
Tips for Long-Distance Relationships
Jumping from high school to college may seem scary, especially when you’re apart from your significant other. According to Psychology Today, Dr. Barbara Greenberg suggests these top 5 tips to help strengthen your long-distance relationship during college.
Tip 1: Commit.
Making sure you and your partner are both willing to make your relationship work no matter the challenges you may face will help increase the likelihood of staying together in the long run.
Tip 2: Set up clear expectations.
Explain what you need in order to be on the same page as your partner. Make sure to express your needs and feelings.
Tip 3: Check your envy meter.
Your partner may gain new friends who you won’t know, which may lead to jealousy or insecurity. If this happens, make sure to make your own group of friends and remember social isolation is a big no.
Tip 4: Try very hard not to idealize your partner.
If you put your partner on a pedestal and fail to realize some small flaws (after all, we are human), you are more prone to being disappointed and heartbroken by their imperfections.
Tip 5: Have end points.
Focus on the small things, like spending the summer or holiday together, rather than jumping the gun to the bigger things, like marriage, especially if you’ve never talked about future plans together yet.
I wish all of the other seniors luck into their transition to college. I know everyone will be successful as long as they don’t give up on their dreams. For the underclassmen, good luck next year. You’ll never be forgotten by your upperclassmen friends.
References
Dashnaw, D. (2025, February 24). What Percentage of High School Relationships Last? The Surprising Truth About Young Love — Daniel Dashnaw. Daniel Dashnaw. Retrieved May 20, 2025, from https://danieldashnawcouplestherapy.com/blog/what-percentage-of-high-school-relationships-last
Greenberg, B. (2018, May 11). 5 Ways to Strengthen a Long-Distance Relationship. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-teen-doctor/201805/5-ways-to-strengthen-a-long-distance-relationship