Dear couples of LHS,

I speak on behalf of most of the school when I say that nothing ruins the mood faster than looking to your left or right and seeing two people cuddling in public. Or trying to enjoy your phys. ed. class, only for your friend to tap your shoulder and point out a couple kissing at half court. Or trying to walk to your next class and being stuck behind a couple walking at a snail’s pace because one person has his or her arm around the other. The public display of affection (PDA) has become an increasingly prevalent problem, and it is almost impossible to ignore it in the halls of this school.

Before I begin, allow me to clarify that this is not simply me complaining about couples in our school community; there is nothing wrong being in “love” in high school. However, when your “love” for your partner is distracting, a nuisance, or just flat out disgusting, a line is crossed. This also is not me calling for the complete removal of PDA from our society. 

I am also able to recognize that relationships operate on a case-by-case basis, and some couples do not even want to participate in extreme PDA. Innocent acts of affection such as holding hands in the park, a hug or kiss goodbye, and putting your arm around your significant other are all classified as PDA; however, these are harmless examples–ones that you see occasionally that make you smile. The message of this letter is simple: couples need to be more “aww” and less “eww.”  

There is a time and place for everything, especially aspects of a relationship as intimate as cuddling, extended hugs, and kissing. Their time and place are most definitely not in school, and not in front of other people. Being in a healthy relationship takes awareness and self-control. Like many things in high school, relationships can be used as practice for future circumstances where you will be in a similar situation. Not being able to resist holding and squeezing your partner in public makes those around you believe you have no self-control. Speaking of those around you, it is incredibly uncomfortable watching couples constantly grab and canoodle while you are just trying to enjoy a relaxing lunch. 

As for kissing, the tolerance for public smooching is notably much lower than that of simple hugs. However, it is still worth mentioning that people kissing in public is the most disgusting and unnecessary form of PDA. Apart from the obvious risks that come from lip-locking, such as transferring diseases and bad breath, it is utterly repulsive watching a couple swap spit in a place like school. With the end of the school year rapidly approaching, rest time for students is limited, and the last thing an exhausted student wants to see is a couple in her line of sight with the inability to keep their hands off each other.

Additionally, PDA can make students, both single and taken, extremely self-conscious. If a student was just rejected by his crush, seeing a couple walking in the hallway yapping about how much they love each other or watching his friends kiss and caress their significant other may be detrimental to the student’s self-esteem. As for the latter, students who are already in a happy relationship may begin to question the integrity of their relationship. They may start to believe that because they and their partner are not engaging in the same activities, their relationship is void and their partner does not love them. 

To my fellow self-conscious student, by no means is this true. Just because you smooch and snog  your partner in public does not mean your relationship has any more meaning. Your affection for each other should not be measured in superficial displays such as physical activity, but by the quality of the time you spend together, or how the person makes you feel in your heart. 

By no stretch of the imagination do I believe that showing some level of affection for one another in public is bad. I encourage couples in our school to have happy, healthy, and fun relationships. Having a significant other in high school builds character, teaches students to build healthy relationships, and is often regarded as one of the most fun parts of high school. However, those involved must understand that there are boundaries as to what is classified as “aww” and what is classified as “eww.” The sooner we can all come to an agreement on what is acceptable, the sooner everyone can feel that the school is a comfortable environment for all students, single or not.

Sincerely, 

Justin Williams