Whether it’s silently praying they like your music taste while sharing earbuds on the walk home, or deciding to wake up at the crack of dawn for brunch with someone too cute to pass up, high school dating can come in many forms, plenty good… some questionable at best. While rom-coms portray the best date as a fancy dinner in the city, most students don’t have the funds or the means to get there.

Senior Ava Harmon and sophomore Finley Jensen shared their thoughts on what makes a date worth going on.

For Jensen, her favorite date she has been on was to Puppies & Yoga Portland, a downtown business that pairs a yoga session with adoptable puppies.

“I loved cuddling with the puppies and being able to have fun with my date,” she said. “While the price is around $70, I think it’s worth saving up for,” Jensen said.

On the flip side, she also says movie dates have become overrated and overused.

“I have been on so many, and they get super repetitive. I can just watch movies at home instead of paying $20 per person.”

Harmon’s favorite was a double date with her friends at a lake.

“It was really nice because not only were you able to see how your partner acts around your friends, but it was just really fun since we got to be together while socializing with others. And we went out to dinner afterwards!”

She also noted that it’s an affordable option unless you want to buy a paddleboard or other swim equipment.

When it comes to first dates, both Harmon and Jensen agree that food is key.

“With lunch dates, I feel like you are forced to talk to them, while with a movie you are just sitting in silence for an hour,” Jensen said.

For Harmon, after-dinner dates offer maximum flexibility.

“Grabbing dessert is the best,” she said. “If it doesn’t go well, it can be short and sweet; otherwise, it is easy to extend the date.”