When you make relationships with others, what are the important factors you consider? Many people are concerned about an age difference, as the perspectives toward it are different, depending on a person’s values. Should people consider each other’s age for their relationships? Or is age just a number? Hongik University held an English Writing Contest on this subject. Let’s read following winning essays and think about this matter together!

The Grand Prize Winner: Choi Jeonyeong

When you walk through the streets of any big city in the world, you are likely to notice a great variety in the type and forms of romantic relationships. People of different nations, cultures, and ages can form romantic relationships and they do it more often as the world continues to become boundaryless and more connected. Just like how globalization in the modern, world has promoted intercultural connections, age does not matter in relationships.

The foremost reason that age does not and should not matter is that there are several advantages in dating someone of a different age. One of the many advantages is financial capability. Someone who is more likely to be more financially capable will have more experience as an independent adult in investing and saving money. Another advantage is maturity. Partners that are older are more likely to have experienced more relationships and have other experiences in life in general that matures them. Because of this they may be more considerate and thoughtful, which makes them a great person to rely on for support. An advantage that the older partner would have for dating someone younger is positive influence from their youth. The younger partner’s energy and youth makes the older partner feel like they are young again and inspires them to be bold and take risks. Someone who is the same age or in similar age groups can not have the same effects that a couple of different ages have on each other.

In addition to the positive effects of being in a relationship with a person that is different in age, third parties’ thoughts and views do not define their relationships. There is no denying the fact that couples with a difference in age are going to get questionable glances from people when they see them. However, other people are not the person that you care and love for the rest of your life. It does not change the reason that you come to love your boyfriend or girlfriend. No one, not even family and close friends, can change why you fell in love with your partner. It also does not matter what other people say about him or her because it doesn’t change who they are. They love each other because of who they are and what they do. Someone who is caring and does good things will not change because of age. The trait that you are most fond of in your partner also does not change with age. Since the partner’s traits and their actions define who they are, other people can not interfere with the couple’s affection and their relationship.

Also, in a romantic relationship, age is hardly important when it comes to maintaining a healthy relationship. Healthy relationships are formed when couples respect each other, discuss ways to better solve conflicts with each other, and are faithful to each other. Being respectful and considerate to each other is not affected by age. It is a matter of their basic attitude to their love one. Arguments and conflicts with love one can both harm and heal relationships. Dealt with properly, they can boost the intimacy and trust two people have with each other. While causes of an argument can be from different points of view due to their age difference, the methods to deal with arguments are not influenced by age. Sincere, discussions and effort to find ways the couple could prevent arguments are about one’s efforts and their careful attitude.

It is understandable that there are factors besides age that make couples of different ages fall in love with one another and maintain a good relationship. It is also worth considering the positive aspects of such relationships as there are several that may compensate for the difficulties with relationships of different age.

Han Suji  suzyhan96@gmail.com

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