From childhood, we are taught that marriage is the happy ending to every story. After all, over 2 million Americans get married every year! TV shows like The Bachelor make it seem that if people could only get married, all their problems would be solved.

When you’re in love, it seems like it will last forever. At first, you may see no faults in your partner; if you do see them, you’re sure that he or she can change for you. However, the divorce rate in America shows us that we can’t predict or fix every possible problem. A marriage is hard work! Even when people have dated and lived together for years, they change their minds about their partner. It’s important to remember that you can never learn too much about a person before marrying them – because once you’re married, you will have to try your best to work it out! You want to be absolutely sure that your partner is the perfect person for you, and that no one better could possibly come along.

As a young person, you should also realize that the statistics are stacked against you. One half of teen marriages end in divorce within the first 15 years. Couples who wait until they’re twenty are more successful; only a third of these couples get divorced after 15 years of marriage. The longer you wait and get to know each other, the more likely you are to stay together.