Relationships are prominent wherever you are, and if you’ve taken a lap around the donut, you’d know there is love in the air. Love is an undeniable emotion with many strings attached that could ultimately make or break a person. Understanding these strings and harnessing the feeling can impact aspects of yourself you didn’t even realize you had.

Dating in high school can teach you about relationships early, stuff like communication, boundaries, compromise, and what you don’t want; lessons that stick and help later in life.

“The best thing about a relationship is having someone to count on, trust, communicate with, and be able to grow with, which makes each other better,” said senior Marin O’Doherty, who’s in a 2-year relationship.

High school relationships are usually seen as having lower stakes. Most high school relationships aren’t about marriage or forever, which makes it a safer place to learn and make mistakes.

A good relationship can make school feel less stressful and give you someone to lean on. Feeling liked and chosen can also help with self-esteem, as long as your whole self-worth isn’t tied to it.

“Don’t hold back from dating in high school; if you connect with someone, you should pursue,” said senior Gabriella Stone, who’s been with her boyfriend for over two years.

Don’t get me wrong, relationships in general aren’t always pretty, but handling disagreements or breakups can strengthen emotional coping skills when supported properly. As long as you go about it healthily and safely, dating in high school can help you learn who you are and how to build healthy relationships, skills that matter far beyond high school.