Schwarzenegger’s Split, Penn Manor Couples Face Differences

By Kendal Phillips and Alex Geli –

There are differences in every relationship but some couples, famous or ordinary, each have to decide if the differences between them and their significant other is worth working on the relationship.

Every couple has differences, some are just worse than others.

For example, after being together for 25 years Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver have split.  They were one of America’s most unlikely couples.  Schwarzenegger, a movie star and Austrian body builder who took the real life role of Republican governor of California, and Shriver a journalist and member of Kennedy’s Democratic dynasty.

Toward the end of Schwarzenegger’s second term as governor he announced that he would be returning to the movie business, but Shriver didn’t give any indication of what she would be doing next.  Adjusting to their new life is suspected to have something to do with their separation.

Some speculated that their differences finally got the best of them.

Schwarzenegger then admitted that he fathered a child 10 years ago with a member of his household staff.  New life?  Apparently not, just an old one in hiding.

The joint statement said that the two were living apart but working on the future of their relationship and that they will continue to parent their four children together:  Katherine Eunice Shriver Schwarzenegger, 21, Christina Maria Aurelia, 20, Patrick Arnold Schwarzenegger, 17 and Christopher Sargent Shriver Schwarzenegger, 13.

Penn Manor couples know all too well of differences in their relationships – whether it be emotionally, physically or mentally. In Schwarzenegger’s case, it was politics and let’s just say a big difference between he and his wife’s views of the wedding vows.

In Penn Manor senior Marcos Rivera’s case…

“Maturity,” senior Rivera said about his relationship with fellow senior Jessie Lindeman. “She is more mature than I am.”

So when a sticky situation arises, will Marcos step up and change his ways?

“I (would have) to step up and show her that I can be a man that she can rely on,” he said.

It’s kind of a learning, growing experience,” Lindeman said. “It could be possible (that it can affect them in the future, but) it’s fun. It’s not a bad thing.”

“Definitely as you grow older, you need to become more serious and be ready for the next step,” Rivera said.

Eric Clark, another senior, has a difference with his significant other that isn’t quite in the same ballpark as Rivera’s.

Sitting in the library, attempting to focus while playing chess with a classmate and being badgered by a student journalist, his girlfriend, Meryl Arnold, is currently in class at Penn College.  A solid hour-and-a-half away is his difference.  Not to discount that high school and college are two completely different worlds.

“It sucks,” said 18-year old Clark. “These last nine months have been the harshest section of our relationship.”

But thanks to Skype dates and, as he said, “keeping it touch as much as possible,” their differences in location aren’t as hard.

“You gotta man up and work though it,” Clark said.

Some couples have problems that are more because of their personality differences.

“Stubbornness,” Clark Habecker said is difference was between him and his girlfriend, Emily Nickel.

Since Nickel is apparently a bit more stubborn than Habecker is at times, “it’s a bit of a bother,” he said.

“I just try and diffuse the situation; tell her she’s right and just drop it,” said Habecker.

Even though it’s a difference, it really isn’t a big deal now, nor in the long run, according to Habecker.

“It’s not that big of a problem,” he added.

Speaking of “not that big of a problem,” another minor difference around Penn Manor is level of niceness.

“She’s nice and I’m kind of a [not nice]” Alex Kirk, a junior, said. He doesn’t have anything to worry about in the future since, well, this couple isn’t quite on the same boat.

“He’s not!” his girlfriend, Sarah Bennis insisted.

“I’m a pushover and he’s not,” said Paige Kuster, girlfriend of senior Dillon Walker.

For some couples this could be problematic but according to Kuster, it’s good that they’re different.  “You can help each other,” she said.

To the right of her, Walker was left contemplating.

“Weird logic but okay…” Walker said, then adding, “It’s good to complement each other.”

Penn Manor couples don’t seem to be let their differences get to them but after 25 years,the  famous couple Schwarzenegger and Shriver did.