Everyone that does not live in a Disney movie knows that it’s unlikely that the first person they date will turn out to be their soul mate.

Because of this, teenagers should be allowed to date in high school so that they can get a chance to find what they prefer in a guy/girl. High school is all about finding a place in the world, figuring out what you want, and maturing into the person that you want to be. Dating is a huge aspect of this. However, sometimes parents hold their teenagers back by not allowing them to date until they are older.

Teenagers need to be able to experience life in all its glory, including emotions. Dating is an emotional landmine.  It allows for various emotions like love, happiness, joy, and sometimes anger, frustration, and sadness. When people do not experience those emotions early on, they will not be prepared to handle situations in college and the real world.

Too often, people get in bad relationships with people who are overly controlling and who don’t respect their boundaries. By dating in high school, teenagers can learn earlier on what a bad relationship is like in comparison to a good one.

High school is never an easy time for anyone. When teenagers are in a positive relationship, their boyfriend/girlfriend will help give emotional support when they need it the most. It’s always helpful to have someone to lean on.

When someone in high school is not allowed to date, they usually end up dating in secret anyway. One of my friends is not allowed to have a boyfriend, but that does not stop her from secretly dating. If anything, it makes her feel the need to rebel. She often sneaks out of her house to meet her current boyfriend.

If parents are too restrictive, then it will cause teenagers to rebel against them even more. At some point, parents need to trust their teenager to make responsible decisions.  Dating is a harmless way to expand a teenager’s freedom. Parents are also more in control of who their teenager dates in high school than in college.

Many parents believe that dating will cause teenage pregnancies and STDs. However, dating is actually better than random hookups at parties. It is safer and allows people to form connections instead of just using someone for pleasure.

And in rare instances, teenagers end up finding their soul mates in high school. Almost everyone knows someone that married his/her high school sweetheart.

Rachel Amrhein is an Opinion Columnist for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.