Did you choose a college that was two hours away from your best friends? I did. Now, I know two hours is a manageable distance, but after being used to seeing your best friends every day for the past 15 years, it can be hard to adjust to being far apart.
I met my best friends when we were in preschool and kindergarten, and they are the people I adore. I cherish every moment I spend with them. A majority of my favorite memories were created with them. They are some of the most important people in my life. I am so grateful that I found this friend group so early in life because they have been there for me through everything. These people have stuck with me through the good, the bad and the ugly. I think that it is so important to have people like that in your life.
At first, I was extremely nervous about leaving them because we had never been far apart for so long. One of my friends that I made here at school asked me, “how do you deal with the distance when you are used to seeing each other daily?” Well, let’s get into that.
Here are a few things that have helped me, so maybe they will help you and your friends too.
- Schedule time to call or video chat during the week
-
One of the most important things is still staying in contact, and the best way is to call or video chat. I always love calling my friends because I get to hear their voices, and it feels like they are right next to me in a way. Video chatting is also great because not only do you get to hear their voice, but you get to see them too. Seeing my friends after a long day or after a hard test always brightens my day because they are the type of people that know how to make me laugh or smile, which helps when having a bad day.
- Plan to get together during break
-
Being home is always nice because you get to see your family, but it is nice to get to see your friends too. When you know that you are going home, make some time in your schedule to see your friends over lunch or dinner, or you could always have a sleepover and just catch up.
- Have a movie night
-
Everyone loves a good movie night, so why not do it with your friends? One thing I love about technology is that there are many ways to watch movies together virtually. Many streaming services have something called a watch party, which allows you to watch movies or shows with other people. You can do this on Hulu, Disney + and even a website that makes it possible to watch Netflix together, so grab your favorite snack and get to streaming.
- Have a game night
-
One thing my friends and I love doing is playing video games together. We all love to get together on Discord and pick a game or a few to play. Some of our favorite games to play are “Mario Kart,” “Among Us,” “Minecraft,” “Jackbox Games” and “Crazy 8.” During the pandemic, this helped us a lot when we were unable to see each other. I highly recommend doing this with some of your friends.
It may not seem like much, but all of those activities have helped me stay in touch with my best friends. Often, it is the small things that matter the most. So, make the most out of the little things with your friends, and you guys will be just fine. Long-distance friendships may seem hard, but it is always worth it in the end.
To my friends, thank you for being there. I love and miss you dearly. I will see you soon. XOXO.
P.S. I know my friends are reading this only because I’m making them — oops.