This blog was contributed to CSVANW by our high school intern, Shaylee Skidmore, from the Native American Community Academy

A part of my internship at CSVANW has been helping Keioshiah, the Youth Coordinator, create youth materials. I had the opportunity to create a poster for youth on dating rights. Dating rights are important to know because everyone should have a healthy connection with their significant other. Healthy means that there’s communication between the partners and even goals set to keep each other on the right path. It’s not just physical; it’s integrated with emotional and spiritual stability as well. We are all different which makes us unique and that should be considered and respected in any relationship. A relationship that lacks these qualities can be rough to work with and the partners end up hurting not only each other, but themselves as well. With this list to guide you, these problems can be avoided.

From a more personal perspective, I know that not every relationship is perfect and no relationship ever is. I’ve seen countless fall apart and many survive through the difficult times. Every relationship encounters a problem and that’s okay, it isn’t weird. In fact, it’s completely normal but how you handle it is where the health aspects fall into place. Yes, you love your significant other but you can’t let that love blind you or affect your ways of thinking. You can’t let it manipulate your actions. The rights stated above are yours for the taking! Apply them however you need, that’s the purpose of this. No matter how hard it gets, always know that you are in control of your own life and your decisions should reflect you as an individual. Do what’s best for you in the end because in the end you always have yourself.

For more information, these are some helpful resources,  check them out-

Love is Respect http://www.loveisrespect.org/

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence http://www.nrcdv.org/

Native Love http://nativelove.niwrc.org/

Remember that you’re never alone and you are worthy enough for respect