Graduation usually marks the beginning of a new chapter for seniors, but for couples, it could also mean deciding whether or not their relationship will survive the distance, schedule changes and activities that come with being an adult. While students are excited for college or the opportunities that await them outside of high school, current couples wonder what this new chapter means for the relationships they built in high school.

Natalie Alvarez and Josiah Joseph are among the few senior couples planning for their life after graduation. Alvarez plans to attend Cal State Fullerton to study and pursue a degree in communications and relations, while Joseph plans to attend East Los Angeles to continue both his football and academic career.

Although the couple is attending different colleges for different reasons, they do not believe that this will affect their relationship in any way.

“’We’re still able to talk and see each other,” Alvarez said.

Joseph agreed, saying that there are no concerns in their relationship.

“No, not at all… we have a strong relationship,” Joseph said.

Another senior couple, Angelina Aguero and Noah Davis, already have plans for their lives together after high school while balancing their separate college lives and their own responsibilities. Aguero plans to attend Cal State Fullerton and major in communications and entertainment tourism, while Davis plans to attend Cal Poly Pomona and study business and accounting.

The couple already discussed the challenges that may come with not seeing each other every day.

“We definitely talked about it and talked about the challenges that we’re going to face you know, with finances, managing, whole new lifestyle together, ’cause, not relying on your parents really changes a lot of things,” Aguero said. 

Despite them attending different schools, Davis says the distance between them will not create any problems in their relationship.

“I don’t think it would be that big of a chunk. I feel like our schools are pretty close by,” Davis said.

Another couple, Hannah Troung and Angelo Gregorio, shared their thoughts on balancing their relationship and college life despite the differences in their paths. Troung plans to attend community college to study biology, complete internships, and later attend a four-year university to continue her studies. Gregorio plans to attend UC Irvine to study business management, accounting and finance.

Both Troung and Gregorio acknowledged their life after high school will bring changes to their everyday life, especially when it comes to seeing each other every day.

“We won’t be going to school together anymore,” Troung said. “Not that that’s a good or bad thing, but that would be the main difference.”

Gregorio stated that adulthood after graduation comes with more responsibility and independence.

“After high school, it was like, if you want something, you have to go out, like, get it,” Gregorio said.

Although they are attending different colleges, they believe that with good communication, their relationship can maintain itself and remain strong.

“I think depending on how we react to that effect it will be good or bad. Like, personally, I think, you know we’ll be able to work it out and still make things work,” Troung said.

Gregorio added that being able to work through things in your relationship despite the distance will keep it going strong.

“I mean just like everything, you have to plan things out and talk about it,” Gregorio said. “I think it would just make us closer eventually because we work through it.”

All the couples emphasized the importance that communication has on a relationship, as well as their shared interests. They stated that their shared interests are what helped strengthen their relationship and recognize their relationship may need more maturity to keep healthy.

“I think you and your partner need to be on the same page, just knowing that you want to continue loving each other and building your relationship stronger,” Aguero said. “It just takes a lot of, you know, time and effort, forgiveness, patience, it just takes a lot of things to make it work.”

Alvarez and Joseph agreed, but also said that it is difficult to speak for other people as they may not have the same confidence as their own relationship.

“I think it more so just depends on your own relationship. Like, we have a strong relationship, but I can’t speak for other people,” Alvarez said.

After graduation is a new beginning for all that can be filled with uncertainty and excitement, with a new profound responsibility that comes with being an adult. Seniors must decide for their relationship and what is healthiest for it. However, for couples like Alvarez and Joseph or Aguero and Davis, communication may be all that is needed for a strong and healthy relationship beyond high school.