So you’ve finished the fall semester with a bang, and you’re looking forward to all that the new semester will bring (minus the copious amounts of schoolwork). The glistening snow and cold weather provide the perfect excuse for a quick Starbucks run and phone call to Papa John’s before settling down for a cozy Saturday night Netflix movie night with one of your best friends. You can almost feel the warmth radiating from your hot cup of coffee, spreading from the palms of your hands to your toes, which are happily curled in the blanket that always seems big enough for two. Then, you find yourself hoping that she’ll want to watch Love Actually instead of Pride and Prejudice (although, who doesn’t love the Colin Firth wet shirt scene?)
And that’s when you remember that the decision will be yours to make because your best friend won’t be there. She’ll be abroad, experiencing the rolling, emerald meadows, majestic castles, and delightful beers of Ireland. Your Netflix buddy, the girl who never fails to make you laugh, the Belle you’d fly to the moon and back for is embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. One of your best friends is gone, and you will miss everything about her. Her beautiful smile. The sassy personality that goes well with her fiery hair. Everything.
While it will be hard not to be caught up in self-pity, mourning in the absence of your beloved friend, don’t. Just don’t. Instead, think about all of the amazing opportunities that she’s going to have. Sure, you’ll be sad at times, but remember that it’s not necessarily about you. It’s about her. This just might be the trip of a lifetime. Her experiences are going to shape and transform the woman you knew. The places she’s going to see, the friends she’s going to make, and the new ideas that she’ll be exposed to will give light to something beautiful and magical. She’ll come back, of course. In many ways, she might be the same. But she’ll have new memories and stories to share. That doesn’t mean you can’t laugh over football tailgates of sophomore year or that cute boy who once gave her butterflies. Just embrace her new adventure while she’s gone, and send her lots of love and silliness over Facetime.