I Gave up Dating and Chose Waiting

One approach to the high school social scene

By: Andrew Leyva

What kind of high school kid would put off dating? A weirdo? An unearthly, super-spiritual type? Someone who’s made an early vow of celibacy? Well, I’m none of the above. In fact, I have to admit that my initial decision not to date had little to do with God. It all started out with some logic.

First off, I had friends who dated in middle school and high school and I didn’t see much good come out of it. They came out of relationships hurt, sometimes feeling guilty because of compromised morals and purity. Often I saw friendships become dating relationships and end in heartbreak, with both persons no longer associating with the other.

The other thing I noted about my friends’ relationships was how quickly they ended. Was this any way to prepare for marriage? Instead it seemed that the dating patterns I saw prepared everyone involved for divorce.

It was providential, in a way, that I felt shy around girls during my middle school years. Looking back, I think that God was protecting me. Though I saw the illogic in dating, I craved a relationship where I would feel loved.

Learning…