RELATIONSHIP ADVICE: New year, new happiness

ADVISER’S NOTE: The advice provided by “Harley Quinn” is for entertainment purposes only. If you feel you truly need help with such issues, contact a mental health care professional.

It’s a new year, full of possibilities and new experiences. Everyone is still trying to keep their idealistic New Year’s resolutions, so why not make a few for either getting into or continuing a relationship?

In high school it is all the hype to be in a relationship and constantly have a person by your side, but in reality you don’t need someone to make you whole or more complete. The whole purpose of a relationship is to be with someone who makes you a better person.

If you are interested in a person who makes you feel happier and they challenge you to be better person, here are some tips to try and spark something:

(ProTip: make sure you are actually interesting in committing to that person and being in a relationship with them. It is the rudest thing to start a relationship with someone only to end it a couple of days or weeks later. Not only does it hurt that person but it’s just wrong.)

♥       Offer to buy them either coffee (or their preferred hot drink), lunch, or dinner.

♥       Take them to a movie.

♥       Plainly tell them you have feelings for them and state your intentions (Ex: “I enjoy spending time with you and would like to spend more time with you, preferably as your significant other”).

♥       Use a cheesy pick-up line (Ex: “You look familiar. Did we have class together? I could have sworn we had chemistry.”)

♥       Laugh with them. Enjoy each other’s company. Relationships should be based on a mutual want and joy in being with each other. You should usually be good friends before you get serious.

Something else to keep in mind when trying to start a relationship is to respect the fact they may not have the same feelings for you, so you need to be prepared to have to back off and be satisfied with just being their friend. Under no circumstance is it OK to do any of the following:

  •         Start calling them names. The names can range from b*tch to prude to player.
  •         Blackmailing them. This can be using personal information against them or even threatening to kill yourself if they say no.
  •         Begin bullying them. Whether this be spreading rumors or flat out ignoring them, that is bullying.
  •         Pressuring  them into liking you. This can be as mild as repeatedly asking them to as extreme as stalking.

All of the above are just childish reactions to rejection and proves that you are not ready to commit to someone.

If you really care for someone, you will respect their wishes and back off. In some cases being patient and just being that person’s friend can naturally lead to the start of a relationship. You just need to be patient.

Now for those of you are in a relationship and hope to keep things going here are some tips for dating in high school:

♥       Go on dates. Not all dates have to be expensive or even need money to do them in the first place. For date ideas go check out one of my previous stories that include several winter date ideas.

♥       Do cute cheesy things for each other. You are allowed to do cutesy things that older couples don’t often get to indulge in. It can range from notes to awful pickup lines (Keep it PG).

♥       Hold hands and hugs are key. YOU DO NOT NEED TO GO BEYOND THAT. YOU ARE KIDS AND DON’T NEED TO BE DOING THE NASTY STUFF THAT ARE STEREOTYPED WITH RELATIONSHIPS. YOU DON’T NEED TO DO ANY OF THAT FOR IT TO BE A RELATIONSHIP. THERE IS MORE TO IT THEN THE PHYSICAL STUFF.

♥       Don’t be afraid to see each other outside school. That is key to keeping a relationship alive.