Switched-On :: Blog

Dating can be both enjoyable and challenging, and at times can be a way to learn from being in a relationship. However, there are also some things to be aware of when in a relationship. These are some things to keep in mind to keep yourself safe from harm when dating.

In the past, there have been some dangers associated with dating someone online. People do lie about who they are on the internet because it is easy for them to hide behind some level of anonymity. There are some who are deliberately lying to take advantage of youth. In some cases, especially for teens, it’s better to be safe than sorry and go out with someone you may already know mutually.

If the person you’re dating is acting like they have complete control of you, threatening you verbally or even physically, these may be signs that the relationship is becoming unhealthy and even abusive. It is far from romantic when the other person in your relationship is harming you in some way.  One way may be to talk to someone who can help you get out safely from an unhealthy relationship, like a parent or guardian or a friend.

- Allyson

relationships aren't always this pretty and perfect

Relationships are always fun. They can be just temporary or for a long time. No matter what, you are with someone you really like. You want to spend as much time as possible with them. Then one day your partner or lover decides they don’t want to be in a relationship anymore. You try to figure out in your head what went wrong. In a lot of teen magazines you hear about how girls should cry, eat ice cream, and spend as much time as possible with their friends. For the guys all they do is feel bad, maybe feel hurt inside but never show it, then move on. You see this in magazines and you think this will never happen to me. I was the person who thought “if someone ever broke up with me I would never cry and just move on because I know he doesn’t want to be with me and that is fine.” When the day came that my boyfriend of a year said that he wanted to break up I felt like çráp. I went to my friends for support but I didn’t eat ice cream. I guess what make stereotypes true is because people do the things others expect us to do. That is just how it is.

- Tatiana

So there is a new season of “16 and Pregnant”. I find the show interesting so of course I follow it. The two new shows of the season have me really emotional. Not like crying but mad then happy then mad again. First off the boyfriends of the two girls are just sooo immature. One is an alcoholic and the other is rude to anyone. The first girl is rude and mean to her mother. The mother is just opinionated and hates the boyfriend. They are both rude to each other. I understand their points but still doesn’t mean they have to be mean. The mother is just so rude to the boyfriend even though he doesn’t have a job or anything. She called him a sperm donor. He is still the father though. The daughter should have some say on whether he should stay in her life or not. Then the second show had a girl who kept going back to the boyfriend. He kept breaking up with her just to go with another girl. She didn’t care and still loved him. Even her friends hated him. The point I’m trying to make is some girls just need to realize that a guy isn’t good for them.

- Tatiana

I got a relationship question that has been on my mind. What if your partner is in college while your a high school senior, how would you feel? My boyfriend is in his first year of college. His first semester, he would have classes in the morning. After his classes he would either hang out with his new friends or be with me when I got out of school. Most of the time he would be with me. I love seeing him but seeing him every day would be way better. At the moment he is on break from college so I get to see him the same amount as if he was in school. Then I see his new schedule for second semester. He has classes in the afternoon. That means I get to see him less. That makes me sad. I want to see him but he has to get an education first. I have no clue how often I would see him and it would suck just seeing him once a week. Any advice?

- Tatiana