Every teenager hopes to have the cliché “high school sweetheart” relationship found in most romance movies, but that is not the norm in this day and age. As relationships come and go, it is hard for people who are young and still in high school to maintain something long-term.

This generalization does not apply to sophomores Melissa Pratt and Tyler Pacak, who have beaten the odds of most typical relationships that barely last.

Pratt and Pacak met through their church and got to know each other on a mission trip. They became good friends and became an official couple over a year ago.

“We never knew that this would last a year, but we’ve become really close, so I like long term relationships,” Pratt said. “You get to know the other person more, plus you learn a lot about yourself and love too.”

They have grown to really know each other and hang out a lot, and are very supportive of one another in terms of sports and activities.

“I support Tyler with baseball and he supports me with track and ballet,” Pratt said.

Date nights for the couple include going out to eat, seeing movies, hanging out and playing basketball and baseball.

Though they are still sophomores and don’t have their licenses, their parents are open to driving them around. Pacak will get his license next month, which will make driving to dates easier.

Even though they are young, only 15 and 16 years old, they are still going strong and remain very happy with each other.

“I don’t know what will happen in the future, but we’re enjoying our time together now, which is what matters,” Pratt said.

Both know high school relationships are often tested and most don’t end up working out, but it is worth it for the few that do.

“I can’t predict the future, but I hope we’re together for a long time,” Pacak said.