Do High School Sweethearts Last?

People say dating in high school never lasts, but that's not true. Pusch Ridge Christian Academy alumna Cara Cone has been married to her high school sweetheart for 17 years.

 

Before graduating from PRCA in 2004, Cara spent her high school years as a cheerleader and as part of the student council - and absolutely loved both.

 

In a class of only about 40 seniors, it was easy for her to be involved in her school, even finding the love of her life. Cara met her husband through mutual friends at one of Pusch’s very first nighttime football games when she was a junior and he was a senior.

 

After graduating from PRCA, Cara moved to Flagstaff and attended Northern Arizona University (NAU). She majored in hotel and restaurant management, but she hated her time at NAU! Cara worked extremely hard and made a four-year degree into a two-year degree but this made her time at NAU unenjoyable.

 

After Cara graduated from NAU with a degree in hotel and restaurant management, she worked at La Paloma in corporate planning. Even though Cara loved her job, she and her husband Garret made the decision that she would stay at home with the kids and support him in his career.

Cara now has two daughters, Emilee and Ella. Emilee is the oldest at 14 and the younger daughter Ella is 11. Before they moved to Jacksonville, Florida, Emilee attended our PRCA Grammar School.

 

Cara said that her time at Pusch Ridge Christian Academy helped her learn how to think critically, build a firm foundation for her faith, and reinforce good character traits. Her experience at PRCA positively impacted her that she chose to send both of her children to private Christian schools in Florida, hoping to give them the same experience.

 

Finally a word of advice from Cara, “Do not let circumstances define you.” Cara says it's better to go through life with a positive outlook, or glass-half-full mentality, and look for one thing you’re thankful for with every situation and person.

           

It is possible to be in a long happy relationship out of high school, but it is important to base it on a strong foundation whether that's within your faith or within yourself, and Cara and Garret Cone are a great example of that.