Upperclassmen discuss challenges of long-distance relationships

High school is, mostly, a time for learning. Yet one of the biggest aspects of “the high school experience” is the pursuit of romance.

Yet what happens to these relationships after hats are thrown into the air in June can be depressing. Faced with the prospect of separation, some couples choose to break up, and high school romances become high school memories.

But other couples have maintained their bonds despite the gaps of distance and culture. 

Such is the case for senior Jessica Pham, who met her boyfriend, SHS alumna Raymond Wong, in chemistry class junior year.

“When we met, I think it would be safe to say that we both had butterflies in our stomachs since we were both going to meet our crush for the first time,” Pham said.

And this bond endured, even despite their separation when Wong began attending Indiana University this fall. Today, the two meet sparingly and keeping the relationship going hasn’t been easy. 

“You just have to put all your trust in it and hope for the best,”  Pham said. 

Through social media and Skype, the Pham and Wong have maintained a daily correspondence. 

“It was kind of stressful at first because it’s hard to find time to talk,” Pham said, “but now I just Skype with him once a day for a couple of hours.”

Regardless, Pham said the relationship is going strong.

 “I think that it is worth all this effort because we make each other happy even from 2,000 miles away,” Pham said.

Many others like Pham and Wong are engaged in a long-distance relationship. One of these many would be senior, Kevin Chun, who is in a relationship with SHS alumna Samantha Cheng. The two met in band during Chun’s sophomore year, and she now attends UC Berkeley. 

Thankfully for them, the distance between Saratoga and Berkeley is only a hour long drive, and Chun and Cheng plan on meeting at least once every two weeks, when Cheng comes home to visit her family.

“We just started dating long distance,” Chun said. “We dated for two years prior and we really hope that it goes well.” 

Both Pham and Chun agree that trust and devotion seems to play a big part in long-distance relationships. Without that, the relationship won’t go anywhere.

 “I do think the long distance part of our relationship has changed our relationship because in an ironic way it has brought us closer together,” Pham said.