By Emily Panameno

High school relationships are often thought of as short-lived experiences, romanticized by the classic movie rom-coms we grew up watching. From stolen hallway glances to that first text, first loves are typically seen as temporary rather than long-lasting. However, for many couples at Granada Hills Charter (GHC), the term “high school sweethearts” represents something more than a memory, it represents a love that only time can build.

For former GHC alumni Jeff and Aleen Martin, what started as an innocent high school relationship soon evolved into something that has lasted nearly two decades and is still going strong. Jeff, class of 2005, and Aleen, class of 2007, first met at a winter formal party hosted by a mutual friend. Although Aleen knew Jeff from his spot on the GHC basketball team, neither of them would have ever expected their relationship to blossom.

The day after that interaction, Jeff reached out to Aleen via MySpace. After exchanging numbers, the two of them were inseparable ever since.

“I think Jeff and I have a different story than most. We were already in a long term relationship, but still so young,” Aleen said.

During high school, Jeff and Aleen built their relationship on lunch dates and simple routines. Since Aleen finished school early, Jeff would often pick her up from school so they could get lunch together before he headed off to work delivering pizzas. Although they weren’t involved in shared clubs or activities, every shared moment helped build their relationship.

After graduating from GHC, they continued their relationship despite attending different colleges. Although balancing school work and the challenges of becoming young adults, they didn’t allow the distance to impact them. Instead they stayed connected and maintained that same bond they built back in high school.

However life took an unexpected turn for the couple when Jeff was involved in a serious accident, leaving him in a coma for eight days as well as needing more than ten surgeries. Despite the intensity of the situation, Aleen remained by his side throughout his entire three month stay in the hospital
“I didn’t think anything of it at the time because more than anything, I wanted to support him and see him recover.” Aleen said. “A few months after he was able to come home, I think we both figured that this is for real. We had been through the worst together and only would continue to grow.”

With this moment marking a turning point in their relationship, Jeff and Aleen soon understood that what once was an innocent high school romance grew into something deeper and unbreakable.
“We were there for each other during the bad times so knowing we had that behind us was even more reason for us to grow as a couple,” Jeff said.

Jeff and Aleen got married in 2013 and now share a home with their two sons, marking 19 years together. Although many may see young love as temporary, stories like Jeff and Aleen’s demonstrate that a relationship built with time and commitment can grow into something beautiful.