When it comes to a whirlwind as potentially chaotic and disorienting as love, some, if not most of us, decide to venture into it when we're a bit older, wiser, and overall "more mature." Besides, not many of us can probably imagine our high school selves with significant others (I mean, we were barely surviving school!).
But while relationships formed between two young people are often regarded as temporary puppy love, if done right, these can blossom into strong, long-term bonds with years worth of growth and commitment to bank on, and their fair share of unique experiences.
Below, five high school sweethearts tell us what it's like to be in a relationship that's gone through major life phases.
Hazel and Bryan
Hazel, 24, and Bryan, 25, were teammates in the track and field varsity of Hope Christian High School, wherein seeing each other almost everyday easily gave way to a budding relationship. From hanging out exclusively at training, the two began to take their recess and lunch breaks together. They even shared that because they've been used to seeing each other up to six times a week, adjusting to their new schedules when they entered college had been difficult.
When asked about their favorite High School memories together, the couple reminisced on simple experiences like rides at the school bus and varsity events ("Cheering for each other during competitions are some of our best memories we won't forget"), as well as milestones ("Our prom was also a great memory, because in that moment, we felt like we were adults!"). But they fondly shared that the simple act of waiting for each other outside their respective classrooms was also a favorite memory of theirs, because the "little things in the relationship" mattered just as much.
Being together for so long builds trust and commitment unlike any other.
Having been together since High School, the couple will soon be celebrating their 10th anniversary, noting that "being together for so long builds trust and commitment unlike any other." They also told Cosmo, "You get to know each other better…and all of these things help us build our relationship even after all these years."
Star and Hezron
It's no surprise that love stories can form within the four walls of the classroom. As is the case of Star and Hezron, who both graduated High School at the University of Negros Occidental - Recoletos. The two met back when Hezron had been a transferee and noted that "Star [was] one of the first people I got easily comfortable with, because we were seatmates." He even jokingly added that having their own world while class was ongoing often got them reprimanded by their teachers.
All in all, their early experiences seemed straight out of a teenage movie. Star told Cosmo, "We shared almost, if not all the cliched high school 'firsts:' the bad movie date on our first anniversary, prom, first dance, first kiss…[even] the first girl 'rival' I had from another section who had an avid crush on him during senior year."
Natural as it is for young couples to be attached at the hip though, Star and Hezron grew more mindful of the need for independence within a relationship once they entered college and post-graduation: "When you've been in a relationship for so long, you sometimes can't help but question the line where your identity ends and where your significant other's influence begins."
But despite the initial difficulty, they eventually grew comfortable growing together while apart, as it gave them more time to reflect on who they were and where the relationship was headed. And in the face of big life transitions, a relationship that's given you the chance to build your sense of maturity much earlier and define your values as an individual might just be to thank.
Chloe and Mia
After having been acquaintances for a while, Chloe and Mia, now both 23, found themselves in the same section in junior year. Having naturally built a friendship, the two going from casual messages to calls that would last until the next morning, they shared that their relationship "happened so gradually that we never had an exact date to pinpoint when we started being together." But they believe that having friendship as the foundation of their relationship is one of the reasons they’ve lasted this long.
There were times where she would dedicate songs to me.
Being both partners and best friends, the two found ways to support each other's individual interests. Other than nights out together or with friends, some of their best memories in High School were when they'd show up at each other's separate activities, with Mia being on the cheer team and Chloe on the football team. Chloe told Cosmo, "Generally, just moments supporting each other, like watching her competitions or having her watch our games always felt exciting." Mia even admitted that she jokingly referred to herself as a "groupie," being a regular audience member in shows or events where Chloe would play the drums. She gushed, "There were times where she would dedicate songs to me."
Like in any relationship, regardless of when it began, the couple have also had fights that led to temporary breakups, and doubts on whether it was truly possible to stay committed to one person while still in the process of growing up. But they emphasized that we can always make the choice to stay.
Kigia and Dennis
Maintaining a High School relationship when you aren't schoolmates entails different experiences and calls for different adjustments. This is the story of Kigia and Dennis, now 23 and 24 respectively, who met through mutual friends at a review center for the college entrance exams. Though their relationship started as a friendship, the two's instant attraction, paired with their friends' teasing, made pursuing each other easy and natural.
Having attended different schools, Kigia and Dennis made do with whatever free time they could get. But instead of looking at their situation negatively, Kigia shared that some of her best memories happened because of it. She told Cosmo, "Back then, we were not allowed to bring our phones to school. Even if we could wait until the end of the day to chat or text each other, he still managed to deliver love letters and poems to me via his friend's sister who also studied in my school."
When asked how being together since High School has affected their relationship, both Kigia and Dennis agree that it's played a big part in the strength of their bond today. Kigia shared, "We were able to grow up in the comfort of one another while also watching each other change. I am very grateful that he has loved and still loves every version of me." Dennis also added that having navigated a lot of ups and downs throughout the years has taught them "how to love each other better and on a deeper level."
Jezreel and Ethan
For Jezreel and Ethan, being schoolmates made it easier to be transparent with one another. Both 19, the two met back in the eighth grade, despite being in different sections and K-12 strands. From a simple text about an Arts assignment, their relationship blossomed and became official the year after at Amo Yamie Crib Katipunan.
While the couple got to enjoy typical dates both in and outside school—including study dates in cafes, shared lunch breaks, and post-exams cinema hangouts—the advantage of being schoolmates went beyond these. Not only did being paired in projects help hone their ability to work as a team, but it also removed any discomfort of seeing each other's weaknesses or failures, and strengthened their communication.
Jezreel shared, "I feel like other couples hesitate to tell each other about their mistakes as it might be a 'turn off,' but we have seen each other fail on certain things during High School. These things do not affect how we perceive each other. We [also] speak up about things that we like and do not like."
More than that, Ethan also added that though their relationship hasn't changed drastically in the five years that they've been together, it's changed him personally. He told Cosmo that Jezreel has helped him become an improved version of his past, the two of them using their different strengths to support each other's individual growth.
High School relationships are definitely not for everyone. Some didn't have room for a significant other in their priorities at the time, while others just don't feel like their younger selves could’ve been emotionally or mentally capable for the demands of a relationship. But if there's anything to learn from these five couples, it's that there's no "perfect time" to enter or build a relationship. The only things that matter are how willing we are to make the best of our circumstances, put in the work needed of us, and to love our partners through every change, big or small.
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