Walking the hallways of MHS isn’t what I would call relaxing. It’s crowded, it’s loud, and it’s clogged most of the time. I can deal with that, MHS is a big school, but there is one thing I could do without: Public Display of Affection, or as most people call, it PDA.

Holding hands is fine, a hug is fine, but let’s not goes farther. When you get too “passionate,” and your small kiss or short hug turns into more than that, you’ve committed PDA.

Blame it on raging hormones, strong pheromones, rebellious teenage angst, or some other biology/psychology term that most people pin to teenagers. You may have chemistry and he/she may be your significant figure, but now is the time to cancel out PDA from your bond.

I understand the fact that in high school, you are nearing adulthood, and you want the right to embrace your significant other the way you want. Displaying affection is important, but there is a time and a place.

Consider how many people view a couple committing the incredibly awkward act of PDA between class periods. Considering how many kids I bump into accidently in the hallways, I’m going to guess that number is pretty high.

I guess that would make PDA in a school pretty public to say the least, as in more public than most places I know of. You have an audience—one that doesn’t always approve of your live action chick-flick ending. Forget the perfect kiss, Hollywood version of love; you’re in high school right now.

Also realize just how meaningful a high school relationship—it’s not. It’s unlikely to last long, and if not over in a few months, will die when you leave for college. Some couples will make it, so there is hope, but being realistic about a relationship between minors (and some young adults) is important.

There is one important part of a relationship that I fail to see during PDA: conversation. Yes, talking to your boyfriend or girlfriend is important. How do you know anything about your significant other if you don’t talk to them? Conversation is how you get to know your friends, the people in your classes and shockingly enough, your boyfriend or girlfriend too.

If a couple doesn’t talk in public, there is no way they talk in private. At that point, a relationship is just sad, consisting of nothing but kids releasing pent up sexual frustration, all receiving public judgment. It’s not just me saying PDA isn’t flattering, this is something I’ve heard a lot of people talk about. “Real classy,” “Get a room,” or “I could have gone without seeing that,” are a few clichés I’ve heard.

To avoid PDA, you can work on asking your significant other questions to spur conversation, such as, “How was class?” “What are you doing on Friday?” or something of that nature. It may seem boring, but if a couple can’t sustain a conversation, a couple can’t sustain a good relationship.

You can also hang out with your friends and your boyfriend or girlfriend. Making time for both can be hard, but if you combine the two, you can remain close to both sides. You’re also less likely to commit PDA in front of your friends.

I get why PDA happens. There’s an attraction that goes both ways, and sometimes you want to tell the world, just avoid doing that visually while still at school. PDA in a school is pretty public to say the least—more public than most places I know of. You have an audience, one that doesn’t always approve of your live chick-flick ending. Forget the perfect kiss, the Hollywood version of love—you’re in high school right now.