Accidentally stepping on the back of his shoe, interrupting her during a class presentation, being set up in a parking lot at a youth group event. Adolescence is steeped in awkwardness and hormones. But there are couples who meet during that time of change and confusion who find — and stay in — love.

The perception that a high school romance is likely to end when college or adulthood begins is not lost on these couples. We asked a few of them how they met the challenges of growing up while being in a relationship. They revealed their secrets and explained how their partnerships thrive today.

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    Mary Isenstein, 80, and Len Isenstein, 82, of Dallas

    How they met: “We met at a party and I was 12 and he was 14,” Ms. Isenstein said. “I got a call from a fellow that I know and he asked if I will go on a blind date with Lenny. So we went and that’s it.”

    When they married: July 1, 1957, at 20 and 23.

    Do you still show affection to each other? “Very much so, even more so now than ever,” Ms. Isenstein said. “When the kids left, we just got closer.” Mr. Isenstein added, “As the years go on, I loved her even more.”

    Have your priorities in your relationship changed since you started dating? “As you progress, your priorities change because you become responsible for different things as the years go by,” Ms. Isenstein said. “It’s not just about floating through life. You just got to understand each other and accept weaknesses even if they drive you crazy.”

    Advice: “She does the talking, I do the listening,” Mr. Isenstein said. His wife added: “It’s important to have a similar interest. Marriage is a two-way street. You have to be in it together. Otherwise, it doesn’t work.”

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    Gina Desiderio Edmison, 36, and Joshua Edmison, 35, of Ellicott City, Md.

    How they met: Through mutual friends when Ms. Edmison was 17 and Mr. Edmison was 16.

    When they married: Aug. 6, 2005, at 25 and 24.

    Was it always easy? “Going through infertility was incredibly intense,” Mr. Edmison said.

    His wife said: “It had long lasting effects. Feeling the struggle together — bringing us together and also feeling isolated from each other. We did go through a recovery period even after our first son was born. We had to talk through it; we argued, but had to get down to it.”

    Advice: “At the end of the day, it’s hard,” Mr. Edmison said of being married. “People want or expect it to be easy. By hard, I mean really hard. There are dark times. There were weeks where we didn’t talk or we were not connecting. But since we’re both stubborn and goal-oriented people, we don’t quit. It would be easy to quit. You need to work through the adversity.”

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    Andi Farmer, 51, and Mark Farmer, 52, of Gainesville, Ga.

    When they met: In sixth grade but started dating in 10th grade.

    When they married: Aug. 30, 1986, at 21 and 22.

    Do you still show affection for each other? “Probably too much,” Ms. Farmer said. Referring to their two daughters, Mr. Farmer said, “We embarrass the girls.”

    Advice: “Communication,” Ms. Farmer said. “If you don’t say what’s bothering you, it won’t get better. You also can’t just say what’s bothering you and what’s bad. You have to say what’s good, too. You also have to make sure to pay attention to your relationship and not take the other person for granted.”

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    Lindsey Grays and Alexander Grays, both 29, of Seattle

    How they met: “We met in 10th grade in world history class,” Ms. Grays said. “I was presenting and somehow Alex introduced himself to me during my presenting. He said, ‘I don’t know if we know each other but my name is Alex.’ ”

    When they married: May 14, 2016, both at 28.

    Did you ever break up? “We did long distance in college but broke up,” Ms. Grays said. “We were just both really young. I don’t think either one of us were equipped in making those sacrifices and the kind of commitment it takes to keep those relationships. We didn’t have the mental wherewithal to have separate activity and have a unity. That drew us apart.”

    Mr. Grays said, referring to when they both had graduated: “She may have come home from college a week or two after I did and we just kind of took things slow. It didn’t take long for us to get back together. Our friendship had grown and we were evolving as adults.”

    How has growing up together helped your relationship? “We really had a special opportunity to see each other grow up and we grew together,” Ms. Grays said.

    Her husband added: “We evolve every day and that improvement can make you be a better person. If you’re the same person at 15 and 28, you’re wasting your life.”

    Advice: “Say ‘sorry’ and mean it,” Ms. Grays said. “Do something nice.”

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    Anna Popp and Daniel Popp, both 50, of Plano, Tex.

    How they met: “We met in a parking lot getting ready to go on a United Synagogue Youth event,” Ms. Popp said.

    Mr. Popp said: “A head of the youth group told me he met a young girl who went to the same high school that I did and she’s new and I should talk to her. It was the best introduction I ever had.”

    When they married: July 3, 1989, both at 22.

    How has growing up together helped your relationship? “We helped mold each other into more and more of what we wanted in a partner,” Mr. Popp said. “That set the foundation for us to stick together the whole way. I was supportive of her and she supportive of me.”

    Advice: “It’s a partnership,” Ms. Popp said. Mr. Popp added: “When you really feel like you are in this together, it doesn’t matter what obstacle comes your way. We always try to solve them together.”

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    Shanti Yetish, 24, and Joshua Hunt, 25, of Manhattan

    How they met: On the wrestling team in junior year. (Yes, she wrestled, and was the only girl on the team for most of high school.)

    When they married: They were engaged in September 2015 and plan to wed in September 2017.

    Has it always been easy? “I think the hardest times were when I started college,” said Ms. Yetish, who attended Rutgers University while Mr. Hunt stayed home in Teaneck, N.J., to work and attend community college. “There were a lot of confusing things going on. On the one hand, Josh was being amazing and taking care of my mom, who was sick, and proving to be an important part of my life. On the other hand, I was surrounded by so many long-distance couples in college who were breaking up and Josh was also getting jealous sometimes. It was confusing. But I quickly realized that my relationship was different than other people’s, and I really learned to appreciate ours. Josh is so genuine. There’s something so real about him that I know I couldn’t find in anybody else.”

    How has growing up together helped your relationship? “The last seven years we grew together,” Ms. Yetish said. “I wouldn’t be the person I am without Josh. We had a large influence on each other’s lives.”

    Advice: “Patience, and understanding where the other person is coming from,” Ms. Yetish said. Mr. Hunt added, “Be honest with each other.”

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    Sara Hasson and Laurence Hasson, both 36, of the Bronx

    How they met: They were in the senior class play, “Peter Pan.” Ms. Hasson was Wendy and Mr. Hasson was Tinker Bell.

    When they married: Aug. 14, 2003, both at 23 and on the night of a blackout in the Northeast.

    How has growing up together helped your relationship? “I think as much as we’ve changed since high school, fundamentally we are probably the same,” Mr. Hasson said. “We still have the same professional and religious goals and family goals. I think we’ve actually stayed fairly consistent with who we are.”

    Do you still show affection for each other? “Sara craves more affection, and I think she takes it personally if that affection is not given as often as she would like,” Mr. Hasson said. “The reality is it’s not in my mind. I’ve been dealing with a high stress job, three kids, dealing with the stress of a parent who is ill.” Ms. Hasson responded: “I think for me, it’s just like the little things, remembering to say ‘I love you,’ a quick hug or kiss to make sure you don’t fall into this pattern of then just becoming roommates. Having come from divorced parents, I’m attuned to these things.”

    Advice: “Someone gave me advice: Never go to bed angry,” Mr. Hasson said. “I think we really make an effort to try and hash things out when we’re angry.”

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    Paula Mantell, 66, and Michael Mantell, 67, of San Diego

    How they met: “We were at West Orange Mountain High School on our way to English class,” Ms. Mantell said. “I stepped on the back of his shoe, and he turned around. His angry face melted and he smiled. He turned around to his friends and said, ‘I’m going to marry that girl some day.’”

    When they married: Dec. 17, 1971, at 21 and 22.

    How have you maintained a long, sustaining partnership? “We solve problems together,” Mr. Mantell said. “It’s also having enormous trust and having an emotional connectional and passion. We still have a gratifying sex life. We don’t have contempt and we never stonewall. We also don’t get offensive with each other.”

    Advice: “Always turn toward each other, and never ignore each other’s emotional needs,” Mr. Mantell said.