It’s getting in the way of new experiences
Once you get out of high school, whether you’re going to college or stepping into the workforce, a whole new range of opportunities will be presented to you. The relationship you got into in high school might feel like it’s stopping you from embracing experiences that you never got a chance to have before. These could be things like dating as an adult and flirting with people at a bar, or they could be closer to travelling the world which you just don’t feel like you can do with your high school sweetheart.
So you can learn who you are by yourself
You were not an adult in high school, and you did not have the chance to build the life you wanted for yourself. You didn’t have your own home to keep and decorate, and it was harder to connect with people just because you like them and not due to proximity. Figuring out who you are as an adult is something that you can only really do by yourself. That’s why it can be easier without still being attached to a partner you had in high school.
It’s holding back new friendships
When you go off into the rest of the world after high school, your old connections, especially a romantic partner, can act as a safety blanket for you. That means you don’t have to go out and meet new people if you’re nervous, because you already have your partner to hang out with. Staying together with them might stop you from making new friends because of this.
You’re a different person
Depending on how long ago high school was for you now, you might have changed quite a lot as a person. What you enjoyed and wanted when you were in high school might have changed drastically. Your growth as a person might mean that you just aren’t compatible with someone you met at 16 years old anymore.
They’re a different person
When you fell in love with your partner, you were both so young. There are countless ways they could change in the years following high school. They might not have become the kind of adult you always envisioned yourself being with. Their ideas might be just a little too different from yours and you might not like them nearly as much as you used to. You will inevitably have a slightly different route after high school which means that they won’t be the person you fell in love with.
You need a fresh start
There aren’t many times in life where you’ll have the opportunity to start completely from scratch. A key opportunity to di this is in a transitional stage in life such as after high school. Being able to start anew with a blank slate, particularly in a new place where no one know you, will give you a unique opportunity to be exactly the person you want to be. Still having ties to your previous life will hold you back from getting as fresh a start as you might desire.
You got together for the wrong reasons
Statistically, it is fairly likely that you got together with your high school sweetheart because they were near you and you found each other to be somewhat attractive. This means that the basis for your relationship was not mutual interests, desires, true attraction, or trust. That’s a sign you need to have a think about what your relationship is based on and why you might want to stay together.
You wouldn’t pick them today
If you met your high school sweetheart today, would you be interested in them? Would you give them a chance or be willing to start a relationship if you only knew the version of them that exists now? You should not be staying with someone because they’re ‘good enough’ or because you’re afraid to be by yourself. You deserve a partner you are invested in because of how much you love them as a whole person.
There are many others out there
As bad as it may sound, there are plenty of fish in the sea. If you got together with someone in high school, you probably haven’t had many relationships. There are a plethora of romantic and sexual experiences to be had out there. If you feel at all limited in these by staying with your high school sweetheart, then it might be a good idea to break up and see what else is out there for yourself.
You want to grow as a person
Stepping out of your comfort zone is something that will lead to your development and growth internally. Tackling the challenges of life yourself is a perfect way of doing so. Having someone who is always there for you to lean on might end up hindering you in your growth. This is doubly true as relationships take commitment, so you will have to help them through their difficult transitional phases of life as well.