While most high school students spend time worrying about who likes who and the different relationship status of their class mates, I choose to focus on academics, athletics and especially my relationship with God.

Some students desire relationships for a chance to be romanced or to have the knowledge that someone cares about them. While these are nice to have, there are much more important things at this point in our lives.

I am not trying to put down those who are in high school relationships; I am just stating the decisions I have made. At this point in my life, guys make better friends than dates.

When I was young, my mother encouraged me to remain good friends with boys in order to build stronger relationships, rather than risking a good friendship with the awkwardness of boyfriend/girlfriend titles. Until this past summer I had never really taken this to heart.

Prior to this year I found myself caught up in relationships with guys rather than with my relationship with God. I made a lot of bad choices and made mistakes I wish I could go back and erase.

This summer, while at camp, there were some rather powerful messages and speakers. One speaker in particular talked about how often we hold onto things and do not give all of ourselves over to God even though he made the biggest sacrifice for us.

While I have heard that message plenty of times before, it had never hit me what this truly meant. I found myself breaking down in tears and, later that week, I made a commitment in front of the whole camp to surrender all I have to God and his will for me.

For me this commitment meant that I was finally giving my relationships over to God’s will. I realized after a few nights of prayer what this commitment really was.

I believe God has been telling me that I cannot handle a high school relationship at this time in my life – that what is best for me at this time is to focus all I have on him and what he is asking of me.

Do not get me wrong; this is and has been a hard thing to do even in this short time period. I am not saying that magically I have lost my want for “companionship.”

When it comes to those in high school, it just seems like the wiser choice to stay friends with those of the opposite sex. In my opinion, even though some high school relationships might last past graduation, the probability of them lasting much longer is so slim that there really is not a point to it.

In discussions I have had on the subject at hand I have realized some points that I find rather valid.

First, the things that you might be pressured into doing not only hurt you and your significant other but may hurt both of your future spouses.

Second, many of the relationships are not God-based. What are the chances of a good, healthy relationship if God is not the main focus?

My last point is that you should date with the intent that marriage could possibly follow. There really is not any other reason for dating. The only real difference between being good friends and being boyfriend/girlfriend is the physical affection. If you simply like each other, then sure; you can hang out and have fun times.

The titles of boyfriend and girlfriend put a stress on a relationship that otherwise works just fine.