For many years, people have always asked, “Would you rather date someone who is really hot but has a terrible personality, or would you rather date someone not nearly as hot but has an awesome personality?” This question is so difficult to answer in general terms because each person has a different preference. Because this is the case, I will try to answer this highly subjective question in a way that is hopefully most accurately represents the majority of the population. As a start, good looks are of course preferable; however, a good personality is vital in a relationship. 

This is Valentine’s week and it’s got me thinking about crushes. Crushes are wonderful yet horrible things.  You like someone so much that it brightens your day to see them but it ruins it if they happen to ignore you.  My last real crush was on a boy at school named Jason.*  He was cute, smart, and of course he made me laugh: in short, he was a classic triple threat to any girl in the 8^th grade.  Back in the day I thought the crush was mutual.  At the time school was coming to an end and it seemed like everyone was confessing their undying love to someone.  One night we were chatting on AIM (the text message of the early 2000s) about our homework and it finally came out: he told me he had a really big crush…on my best friend.

Valentine’s day is here, and as my friends put it, “The pressure’s on.”  February 14^th is a day filled with love and romance for many people, but it’s also the worst day of the year to be single. Which is why, for single teens like me, the previous statement is especially true. The pressure to find a valentine is definitely on. When you think about it, this day is filled with pressure for teens, single or not.

Whoever came up with the phrase “Agree to Disagree” was probably single when they said it. It’s hard to have a romantic relationship that involves absolutely zero arguments. And that’s okay. A disagreement every now and then doesn’t make a relationship unhealthy—as long as you handle it in a healthy way.  The following five techniques should be avoided when arguing with your girlfriend if you put your relationship with her above always being right.

Is there anything more annoying than that couple you know who are always grossly engaging in excessive PDA? You know—the ones who can’t keep their hands off one another and are always so touchy-feely it makes everyone around them uncomfortable? Sadly there is. What’s worse is the guy who is a total overbearing boyfriend to his girl.

One moment you can feel like a suave Casanova while talking to a girl via text and the next like a bumbling uncomfortable dweeb speaking to her in person. But just because you might be more confident behind a screen doesn’t mean you should have your whole relationship through instant message. Emoticons are not legitimate substitutes for interacting face-to-face. If you want your relationships to work, you’ve got to learn how to function IRL (in real life).

After what seems like forever, you’ve finally caught yourself a good one—a boyfriend/girlfriend who’s absolutely awesome. You just can’t get enough of this person, and they feel the same way about you. So you become attached at the hip, and start doing everything together. There’s just one little problem: your friends are acting super cold and distant. Why? Because you’re not keeping the friend/relationship balance. Classic mistake, but worry not, you can certainly correct it.  Here’s how:

In high school we have teachers to help us through tough subjects, we have coaches to guide us to victory, and a lucky few of us have older brothers who are there to give us advice as we try to figure out girls, dating, and relationships. But I didn’t have an older brother and many of you might not either. In a previous post, Maritza noted that there was tons of information she never got from her older sister that might have prevented some stupid romantic mistakes. And now it’s my turn to imagine which words of wisdom would have been most helpful from an older brother. 

Do you or someone you know suffer from these symptoms?

• Internet history composed primarily of Facebook photo albums of one particular girl.
• Modified, oftentimes inconvenient paths to class to increase the odds of run-ins with this particular girl.
• Over-exaggerated eye rolls from friends upon mentioning her name due to excessive referencing of her.

If you could give other teens one piece of advice about relationships, what would it be? Hear what teens have to say and tell us what you think.