You never realize its absence until one day it’s just there, and you realize how good everything was before. But it is subtle, almost imperceptible. A stroke of the hand, a whisper followed by a giggle. Yet, like everything – it morphs, mutates and matures. This evolution, the possibility that it can always get worse, is what truly sparks
fear in the eyes of bystanders. There’s unease as students navigate each corner of Marlborough, unaware of when the next Marlborough couple may appear next.

Now, I will admit my interpretation is very dramatic. Not unique to just Marlborough, public displays of af fection, otherwise known as PDA, are a fundamental part of the high school experience. It emerges every year and in every grade level like clockwork, eliciting a spectrum of reactions, rang-
ing from indifference to pure outrage.

What I love about Marlborough is how students feel comfortable dating in public. We have truly created a welcoming and inclusive environment where couples thrive. Yet, like all schools with couples, sometimes I feel
like boundaries need to be set. While I’ve never dated at Marlborough, I’ve been around long enough and seen
many couples in my time to have an understanding of some dos, but, more specifically, some dont’s of being the
perfect Marlborough couple.

We’ve all been there. It’s Wednesday morning. You’re already several tests deep into the week, and it feels like a
thousand years have passed since the weekend. The sharp bite of the wind against your bare legs makes you question your decision to wear a skirt. Facing the reality of the six hours full of back-to-back academics is bleak, and you still have three whole days left until the weekend. As you meander into campus with coffee in hand, you come to a grinding halt. Something you knew you would see, yet prayed you would not, awaits right in front of you — a couple canoodling at 7:55 in the morning. It’s too much and it needs to stop.

This is not me being overly negative because I get it. If you love this person, or even really like them, of course you want to be around them. However, these lingering “goodbye hugs” in the middle of a crowded hallway, intimate hand-holding, whispers through passing periods, and, of course, cuddling on couches are bound to evoke varied responses. Some don’t care, but for many others, it’s deeply awkward, uncomfortable, distracting and just not something that one wishes to see at school. So, with that being said, here is my guide to dating at Marlborough from an outside perspective:

1. Know your audience. For example, remember that the CEI is a public space. As much as I would love to see
students sitting in each other’s laps or saying things that are way too intimate for a school environment, I fear that myself and others are sadly going to have to pass on this display.

2. Know where to draw the line. I like hand-holding as much as the next Marlborough student. But there’s a dif-
ference between a simple hand grab and a full-on cuddle session in the middle of the school day.

3. Remember that, at the end of the day, school is school. There is a time and place for everything, but Marlbor-
ough is not your bedroom. When I’m locking in to write my college applications, I do not want to see any excessive touching or extended eye contact out of the corner of my eye.

PDA is a sign of affection. It’s sweet and, yes, occasionally cringy. But when approached with balance and aware-
ness, it can exist without making your peers deeply uncomfortable. So, to the Marlborough couples out there, go ahead, hold hands, share a hug, canoodle. Just remember: Love may be grand, but respect is timeless.