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- Does An Age Difference Count?
Does An Age Difference Count?
- By Miss Emily
- Published 11/20/2010
- Relationships - Teens
Hi Emily,
I'm a freshman at college, and I need your advice. A few months ago I became aware of a guy at my school who I really like. I introduced myself to him last week, and it went very smoothly. We seem to have a lot of things and interests in common, but there is also a gap. He is a 27 year old man who is going for his PhD, and I'm just a freshman. Is nine years too great of a difference? I know that a lot of development happens in both sexes between our ages, but I keep seeing connections between us leading to my hope that we're both on a compatible maturity level. At the same time, I want to be cautious. Setting aside our similarities, can 18 actually offer a REAL relationship to 27?
-----------------------------Miss Emily's advice-----------------------
Many factors come into play in a relationship. It's possible for a guy of 27 to have had limited life experience. And for an 18 year-old, it's possible to have had many life experiences. And I should know, because I get scads of letters from teenagers who have had more living under their belts than some 40 year-old people! I don't know if a romance is in the offing for you and him, but I think time will tell if you and he are compatible on more than an intellectual level with common interests. You seem mature, and that's a plus, but you wouldn't be the first to have your heart broken by an older man if that were to be the outcome. That said, in the great scheme of things, people get their hearts broken for various reasons, and age may have nothing to do with it. See if a friendship blossoms. Once you've gotten to know him to a greater degree, I think you'll have a better idea if this particular age difference justifies a reason for concern.
I'm a freshman at college, and I need your advice. A few months ago I became aware of a guy at my school who I really like. I introduced myself to him last week, and it went very smoothly. We seem to have a lot of things and interests in common, but there is also a gap. He is a 27 year old man who is going for his PhD, and I'm just a freshman. Is nine years too great of a difference? I know that a lot of development happens in both sexes between our ages, but I keep seeing connections between us leading to my hope that we're both on a compatible maturity level. At the same time, I want to be cautious. Setting aside our similarities, can 18 actually offer a REAL relationship to 27?
-----------------------------Miss Emily's advice-----------------------
Many factors come into play in a relationship. It's possible for a guy of 27 to have had limited life experience. And for an 18 year-old, it's possible to have had many life experiences. And I should know, because I get scads of letters from teenagers who have had more living under their belts than some 40 year-old people! I don't know if a romance is in the offing for you and him, but I think time will tell if you and he are compatible on more than an intellectual level with common interests. You seem mature, and that's a plus, but you wouldn't be the first to have your heart broken by an older man if that were to be the outcome. That said, in the great scheme of things, people get their hearts broken for various reasons, and age may have nothing to do with it. See if a friendship blossoms. Once you've gotten to know him to a greater degree, I think you'll have a better idea if this particular age difference justifies a reason for concern.
