The New Year of 2019 calls for a fresh start for everyone. Unfortunately, this also marks the beginning of midyears, school projects, and stress. As students, we devise different plans to deal with our stress levels, sometimes by pursuing our hobbies, such as knitting, creating art, and playing video games.

However, for some students, it is the heart that matters, and to them, there’s a special someone who makes  his or her day. As February 2019, the month of love, is here, we discuss the question: what is the effect of relationships on students?

“The main goal of any relationship is to grow as a person and learn more about who you are,” Mr. Anthony Cogliano said.

Like many high schools, Bronx Science is filled with diverse people who aim to improve themselves both academically and socially. We all have made some kind of connection with our fellow peers at some point in our high school lives, and many of us chooses to bring this bond further. Inside everyone’s heads, there is someone that keeps them occupied, and help them relieve the stress that they normally couldn’t handle by themselves. “School can be really stressful at times, and knowing that I will always have someone to support me is helpful. Whether we are staying up late together doing assignments or helping each other study, being in a relationship allows me to have someone who will be there for me unconditionally, ” Toni Ouyang ’19 said.

Besides the practical effect of relationships, there is a multitude of scientific research behind the role of relationships as it applies to students and their workloads. According to ‘Stages of Life,’ 61% of teenagers admit that they have been in a relationship. Concerning more than half of the teenager population, many individuals decide to have a relationship in order to fulfill these sentimental feelings. “High school relationships, like all relationships, can both be productive and counterproductive. It is great to have a relationship with another person if you are both growing together,” Mr. Cogliano, Bronx Science’s social worker, said. “The problem occurs when we rely on one person for our own happiness or to solve the problems that we might be facing.”

While it does have its own benefits, there is a point in which someone could become over-reliant towards their partners.  Although it is important to relieve stress, it is also important to be mindful of a balance in your life.

In the end, being lovestruck isn’t all that bad. Being able to divide the stress and transform it into affection proves to be effective among the student body. However, focusing too much on it can backfire and distract you in your studies. It is crucial to know how to balance your school works with your love and social life, while also maintaining a stress-free environment. “The main goal of any relationship is to grow as a person and learn more about who you are,” Mr. Cogliano said. “We all benefit when we gain insight on how to become better, and this is often accomplished through relationships.”