I love it when people ask the question, “How did your parents meet?”  Watching their wide-eyed expressions as I tell them my parents are high school sweethearts always fills me with such a heartwarming feeling. Growing up, I devoured romance novels and watched classic love stories on the television, always in search of more love stories like the one I witnessed firsthand at home. 

While many people romanticize the idea of being with someone for nearly their whole life, I’ve realized it’s not just like the books and movies portray it. In the real world, there isn’t one central conflict followed by a happily ever after — maintaining lifelong partnerships comes with its own set of challenges. People often say that although being a high school sweetheart is a romantic ideal, individuals grow and change significantly after high school; therefore, they should find partners later in life who better suit who they’ve become.

According to Daniel Dashnaw, a science-based marriage and family therapist, high school sweethearts make up only 2% of all marriages today. This marks a significant decrease from previous generations — a time when it was much more common for people to marry their first love at a young age. In today’s world, staying with one person for a lifetime is rare. 

As society has progressed, technology has revolutionized how we communicate. When my parents were teenagers, they communicated in person, through phone calls on their respective landlines, or by handwritten letters. Now, teens can have constant communication and access to their partner’s whereabouts through social media, which can either strengthen or strain a relationship. 

The perception that high school love is likely to fade after reaching adulthood isn’t lost on my parents. However, together, they have navigated almost every stage of life, growing into the people they are today alongside each other. 

Oftentimes, it’s surreal to hear my parents compare their shared high school experiences to my own at LFHS. My parents’ love story is a beautiful reminder that building a lifelong partnership replete with growth and fulfillment is achievable with effort and communication. I feel incredibly fortunate to have witnessed such a remarkable example of commitment and love. 

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Chris & Liz Jasper

How did you meet? 

“We both went to Deer Path Middle School, but since he was always a grade above me, I didn’t know of him,” my mom said. “During my freshman year of high school, Chris had his friend call me first to see if I would be interested in talking to him —  and of course, I was. I went to his hockey game with some of my girlfriends and his friends; we all hung out afterwards.” 

“She went to my hockey game, and I remember how excited I was to see her in the stands, cheering for the team alongside my friends. Knowing she was there to watch made me play one of my best games ever,” my dad said. 

What was your first impression of each other?

“The first time I talked to Chris, I thought that he was quiet but sweet. Right away, I noticed his blue eyes and I thought he looked really cute in his Levi Jeans,” my mom said. 

“I saw her for the first time at a Lake Forest football game when she was performing a pom routine at halftime. She was a bit uncoordinated, but wow, I thought she had a pretty smile,” my dad said. 

What was your first date?

“Liz asked me to come to her house. Since I didn’t have my license yet, one of my buddies, Danny Esplin, dropped me off. We rented a VHS of Star Wars: Return of The Jedi and ordered pizza,” my dad said. 

What’s one special memory from when you were dating at LFHS?

“A few times, Chris encouraged me to skip my last-period cooking class to go to McDonald’s with him. Luckily, my cooking partner, Charlie O’Neil, was not only a master chef with the recipes, but he also provided a great cover for me so I never got caught (thanks Charlie),” my mom said.

“I remember convincing her to get on the back of my brother’s motorcycle for the first time — I thought she would have fun, but instead, she was scared to death and then got mad at me for driving too fast. Needless to say, it was a quick trip around the block,” my dad said. “To this day, she always says that I’m the gas and she’s the brake in the relationship.” 

How has growing up together affected your relationship over time?

“I would say that we know each other pretty well by now! Throughout the years, we’ve both grown individually but also as a couple. It’s fun to be able to reminisce and laugh about our decades of good times spent together,” my mom said. 

“Liz moved to Arkansas for the remainder of high school, but we continued to see each other during the summers and on holidays. I was so excited when she decided to attend Arizona State University with me,” my dad said. “Growing up together, we’ve developed shared values as well as a sense of stability and security.” 

How long have you been married?

“We got married when we were 24 and 25. Now we’ve been married for 27 years,” my mom said. 

What advice would you give to young adults dating in high school today?

“Relationships should lift you up and bring out the best in each other. It’s important to be kind and encourage one another,” my mom said. 

“When you’re dating someone, I think it’s important to remember to focus on yourself too because healthy relationships come when you’re confident in who you are. A relationship should complement your life — not consume it,” my dad said. 

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Highlighting other LFHS High School Sweethearts

Chris & Lesley Fisher

How did you meet?

“I moved to Lake Forest the summer before eighth grade and ended up sitting behind Lesley in Mrs. Gault’s 8th grade science class at Deer Path Middle School,” Mr. Fisher said. 

What was your first date?

“Chris had asked me to Junior Prom, but he also asked me to go on a date a few weeks before,” Mrs. Fisher said. 

“My friend, Chris Jasper, helped me gain the confidence to ask Lesley to Junior Prom,” Mr. Fisher said. “Our first date was about a month before prom. We went to Rocky Rococo’s for dinner, saw Rain Man at Rivertree Court in Vernon Hills, and then got Ben & Jerry’s ice cream afterwards.”

Do you have a specific moment when you knew that they were the person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with? 

“I don’t know if there was a specific moment, but as we spent a lot of time apart going to separate colleges, and then after college we lived in different cities for a while, I just knew I didn’t want to be without him,” Mrs. Fisher said. 

“I wouldn’t say there was a specific moment. I’ve always thought that Lesley was the coolest girl I ever met. As I attended Michigan State and she went to Kansas, I never met anyone as cool in my mind,” Mr. Fisher said. 

How has growing up together affected your relationship over time? 

“I think it made us especially close to each other’s families and friends. We also have a lot of shared friendships from LFHS that are still very strong today. I remember what he was like as a boy; I’ve been lucky to watch him grow up,” Mrs. Fisher said. 

“I think it’s only been positive — we’ve been fortunate to be able to experience so much with each other over time. We have such close friends from growing up in Lake Forest that are now like family,” Mr. Fisher said. 

What’s one special memory from when you were dating at LFHS?

“Our lockers played a big role in our high school relationship. While it seems that most LFHS students don’t even use their lockers today, we would meet there between classes and before or after school,” Mrs. Fisher said. “On special days, like Valentine’s Day, Chris decorated my locker and had little gifts waiting inside.”

“Going to Senior Prom with Lesley was so fun, and then we hung out with our friends all night after the dance,” Mr. Fisher said. 

How long have you been married? 

“27 years,” Mrs. Fisher said. 

What advice would you give to young adults dating in high school today?

“Enjoy the newness of getting to know each other. Whether you are together for a few months or forever, let the relationship be one that you look back on and smile,” Mrs. Fisher said. 

“Simply enjoy your time together! Put down your phones and truly find out what is important to the other person. Don’t fast forward and worry about what your future together will be. Enjoy the moment,” Mr. Fisher said.

Tim & Alana Hender

How did you meet? 

“Tim moved to Lake Forest from Pennsylvania, and I remember everyone talking about the ‘new kid,’” Mrs. Hender said. 

“We met in seventh grade in the cafeteria at Deer Path Middle School. My first impression of Alana was that she was very cute and had a great smile,” Mr. Hender said. 

When did you start dating?

“We were friends and started dating pretty much right away in middle school — although we didn’t date through most of high school until our senior year,” Mrs. Hender said. 

Do you have a specific moment when you knew that they were the person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with? 

“Not really — being with Tim just always felt right. We had no drama and great adventures. He has always been my best friend,” Mrs. Hender said. 

“There was no specific moment, but I believe that our two-month trip to Nepal and India the summer after we graduated college cemented our friendship, relationship, and love for each other,” Mr. Hender said.

How has growing up together affected your relationship over time? 

“As we get older, it’s been helpful. I think it’s important to understand what someone’s childhood was like because it shapes who we become as adults,” Mrs. Hender said. 

“Growing up together makes our relationship so much stronger because we have so many shared memories and so many lifelong friends from LFHS,” Mr. Hender said.

What’s one special memory from when you were dating at LFHS?

“One of my favorite memories from LFHS is the second semester of my senior year. Alana and I started dating, and it became my favorite school semester. From the seniors being in talent show, Turnabout dance, Prom, graduation, and parties on the weekends, we had so much fun together,” Mr. Hender said. 

How long have you been married? 

“This May, we will be celebrating 25 years,” Mrs. Hender said. 

What advice would you give to young adults dating in high school today?

“Some people will encourage you to go separate ways, while others will encourage you to stick together. Don’t listen to anyone; just listen to your heart and let it guide you,” Mrs. Hender said. 

“My recommendation is to not overthink the relationship. It’s important to enjoy time with each other, support one another, and take it one day at a time to see where the relationship goes,” Mr. Hender said. “The best part of a relationship with someone else is the ability to share the ups and downs of life and help make each other the best version of themselves — and to be able to laugh together!” 

Brandon & Brooke Rolek

How did you meet?

“Brandon and I met each other in a study hall together during our first semester of junior year. He had grown up in Lake Bluff, and I grew up in Lake Forest, so we hadn’t really crossed paths until then, except in large group settings,” Mrs. Rolek said. 

What was your first impression? 

“My first impression of Brandon was that he was extremely nice and easy going,” Mrs. Rolek said. 

“Right away, I thought that Brooke was really sweet and easy to talk to,” Mr. Rolek said. 

Do you have a specific moment when you knew that they were the person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with? 

“I don’t know if there was a specific moment when I knew he was the one for me, but I definitely remember having moments in high school thinking, ‘Can you really find the one at this age?’ I just felt like I knew, even from that very young age,’” Mrs. Rolek said. 

How has growing up together affected your relationship over time? 

“Growing up together has been wonderful. We share all of the same friends from high school and in all honesty, we were really just friends to begin with. I think it’s really important to know that ‘your person’ is also your dear friend,” Mr. Rolek said. 

What’s one special memory from when you were dating at LFHS?

“Brandon and I both realize that nowadays, there are cell phones and Snapchat where kids can find one another easily. However, the best memories were not really knowing when you’d see one another or when you bump into that person over the weekend or after a weekday sports practice. Brandon played football and I played field hockey. It was fun to get those butterflies in your stomach when you saw ‘that person,’” Mrs. Rolek said. 

“Our entire grade always loved always going to all sporting events and supporting one another whether it be a boys or girls sporting event. We had and still have a lot of Scout pride,” Mr. Rolek said. 

How long have you been married? 

“Brandon and I have been married for 23 years – we were married in October of 2002,” Mrs. Rolek said. 

What advice would you give to young adults dating in high school today?

“I would recommend not always communicating by text or other forms of instant messaging. Definitely do things that create feelings of pure joy where you just can’t wait to see and be with that person again and again,” Mrs. Rolek said. “Also, compliments go a long way for both boys and girls – tell that other person when they look nice, something they’ve done well, or just a simple ‘I am grateful for you’ type comment.” 

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Hearing these LFHS alumni stories is truly special. These high school sweethearts exemplify that romantic relationships, as well as friendships, and connections made with our community members can last a lifetime. 

These couples are a testament to the power of genuine connections, making me further appreciate the strong bonds I’ve created during these formative years of high school and hopeful that many of my relationships will be able to withstand the test of time. 

As I walk the halls of LFHS, I carry with me the lessons learned from my parents’ love story. Whether you’re a hopeless romantic like me or a skeptic of high school sweethearts, it’s important to read and listen to others’ stories of love because they remind us that love is all around, presenting itself in so many different forms. These couples are beautiful examples of what it means to truly love and to be loved.