I do, I won’t
The institution of marriage has seen an extraordinary shift over the past few decades. In the 1940s, it was common for couples to marry young, especially after WWII.
Since the 1960s, the average age of marriage has continued to increase. According to an article published by the “Business Insider,” the current average marriage age is 28.
The article lists several possible reasons for the rise in young marriage. More couples nowadays are living together before marriage, and statistics show women are making careers and getting a quality education a higher priority in their lives.
Despite this trend of waiting until later in life to get married, there are still some couples who are getting married at a young age. There are even some of these couples on Grand View’s campus.
Nathan and Katelynn Johnston on their wedding day. // Photo contributed by the Johnstons
Nathan Johnston (Sr.) and his wife Katelynn, were high school sweethearts. When they tied the knot this past August, Nathan said it seemed like the right time.
“We’ve been dating since high school, and we’ve been living together for a while, so it
just kinda made sense to do it,” Nathan said. “To be honest, the only real difference is that she has my last name now.”
Like any couple, they have their struggles. Katelynn graduated from AIB this past May and is currently working full-time at Principal Financial Group as an administrative Assistant. Nathan works full-time at Northwest Steel Erection on top of being a full-time student-athlete on Grand View’s track and field team. A typical day for Nathan starts at 6:30 a.m. and ends at 8 p.m.
Despite his busy schedule, Nathan said being a good husband is just a matter of honoring his commitment to Katelynn. He believes the long-term nature of this commitment is what gives people pause about marriage.
“I think a lot of younger people are afraid of making this kind of commitment. They’re down for all the fun of dating but not the hard work,” he said. “I’d ask those guys, ‘why not get married?’ It’s just dating someone with the same last name.”
But for every Nathan Johnston there is a Pedro Nieves (Sr.). In a lot of ways, Nieves is a good example of what many people think about tying the knot too soon.
“How well can you really know someone at just 20 or 21?” Nieves asked. “You want to commit to something as big as marriage? I just don’t see how anyone can think they’re mature enough at this age to really make this choice.”
Nieves says he will know when the time is right to get married.
“Once I get my financial status in a good place and my career on track, then I know
I’ll be ready,” he said. “I’ll be taking care of my wife, who’s gonna be by my side for life, and my kids too.”
Nieves laughs at the idea that he is afraid to get married now because of how life-changing marriage would be.
“Afraid of commitment?” Nieves said. “Hell no! I just don’t think it’s a good decision to get married that young, bro.”
Not for Nieves, anyway. But Johnston has no complaints. The decisioin to marry is no joke. At the end of the day, you do or you don’t.
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