Students give views on marriage

Teens set guidelines for marriage selection

By RENATO GANDIA
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

But when you talk to these two young women about marriage, they display a certain maturity about the topic.

So what sort of person would they like to marry?

Men from a French background who are open to having children, they replied.

Both teens believe marriage is about love. "It brings two people together and allows them to create and share life together," Moquin said.

For Amyotee, marriage happens "between two people deeply in love and who are ready to make a commitment to spend the rest of their lives together."

Love, coupled with faithfulness, can bring happiness to a marriage, they said.

Jean-Marc Chauvet, 16, agrees with the young women's beliefs, saying, "Marriage is the most powerful act that two people in love with each other can do."

He believes love is the most indispensable element needed to make a marriage work. "If two people love each other genuinely, happiness can come out of that relationship."

These three students are aware that in today's society maintaining a relationship, let alone a marriage, is constantly challenged by the secular world.

They know how crucial effective communication between couples is to handle these outside distractions. "Two people need to know how to compromise and that can only be done through good and open communication," Amyotee said.

Aside from the love that exists between the two persons, getting to really know each other before getting married is crucial, said Moquin.

"There are people who think they love each other and get married without really knowing each other: that could easily lead to breaking up."

She says there are couples who don't really get along, but "they stay together despite the desire to forget about each other." Couples like that "live in a very unhealthy marriage," she said.

Moquin said "a good marriage would be (one) that produces good children and a close family that stays together."

Being accepted in each other's respective immediate families is also important for her. "No matter how much they love each other, (exclusion) from the extended family can also breed some problems."

The youngest in a family of three, Moquin's reply is immediate when she is asked about the qualities she would want in her future husband. "A person who is open to having children, someone who understands me, someone who accepts the way I think and someone who would be willing to be part of my family."

Moquin knows it's important to have fun together. "Some marriages are too serious and so I would say, 'Wow how could you guys live together like that?'"

Ideally, Amyotee would love to meet someone who has the same values. "Catholic values are important to me."

Fidelity and someone who is open to having children are two other things she emphasized.

Both young women said they would "love to marry someone who is from a French background."

"But I am a very open-minded person: if the one that comes my way is not French as long as I love the person, I would be truly loyal to him," Amyotee declared.

For Chauvet, the youngest of six children, being understanding comes first. "If I have a good relationship and understanding with my wife, getting through anything would come easy."

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