The 89 and the 11 (originally published in the Central Times)

Everyday I see you kids chasing each other (figuratively) in the hallways and classrooms. Boy B likes Girl A. Boy B flirts with her, favorites her tweets, likes her pics on Instagram. Girl A talks to Boy  B, she laughs, she smiles, etc.  Boy B thinks things are going well, but unfortunately, Boy B is unaware of Boy C. Boy C is the guy who acts aloof, isn't very nice to Girl A, and is pursuing Girl D, but of course Boy C is the boy that Girl A is into.  You may be wondering if there are more girls out there-- and there are. Lest us not forget Girl E. Girl E is the girl who pines after Boy B, but he is often forgets to reply to her texts, or say thanks for the pencil she gives him, because he is so flummoxed by the behavior of Girl A.

See, it's complicated. When I see all of you pursuing each other, I draw little mental lines between you kids, and the classrooms and hallways of my mind end up looking like one of those maps they use to  track terrorists. Unfortunately, you kids are often terrorists of the heart. With your hormones, bad examples from culture, and lack of awareness, you guys can sometimes do quite the damage to each other.  Which is why that it is often hard to watch you all pursue each other waiting patiently for it all to shake out.

So for the lucky 11% of you all who actually pursued and landed with the person who pursued you--CONGRATS!!! You're a rare high school phenomena. I hope you are good to each other, appreciate each other and practice healthy relationship habits. For the rest of the 89%, those of you always chasing someone, who is chasing someone, who is chasing someone--have hope. College is near. And the great thing about college is that when girls or guys look at you, they don't have flashbacks to your middle school yearbook pictures. The perpetual hamster wheel is going to come to an end, and you will one day lock eyes with someone who locks eyes with you and there will be mutual admiration and interest.