With the new school year in session, saying goodbye to someone you care about is never easy, especially for a long-distance relationship in college. The initial worries and concerns about being far apart start to kick in, but as the saying goes, distance makes the heart grow fonder.
Like anything in life, there are pros and cons to every situation. While being in a long-distance relationship can be challenging, it also can be rewarding.
One of the most challenging aspects of being in a long-distance relationship while in college is finding the time to nurture the relationship. Each person in the relationship needs to feel appreciated and wanted despite the distance. The initial foundation of the relationship has to be strong and durable.
“The foundation of a relationship has to be solid, you have to trust it to last. You both have to be really determined and want it to work,” said Stephanie Reyes, junior nursing major. “All it comes down to is honesty, communication and trust.”
Reyes and her boyfriend were separated across the country throughout the summer.
Reyes discussed how establishing trust in a long-distance relationship is a key element for its survival. When couples are faced with distance in their relationship, it is easy for them to begin to doubt and to question the stability of the relationship.
Going from seeing your partner whenever you wanted to only seeing them every few weeks or every few
months can be challenging. Without seeing them or having them there to share the simple good and bad of your days can be a bit lonely.
This is where having a strong relationship built upon communication comes into play. College-student schedules can get hectic and overwhelming, so sometimes relationships can fall low on the priority list, which causes them to suffer.
A large part of relational communication is simply listening to the other speak, to show them that you care what they have to say or how they feel. You have to keep the connection alive from both sides.
“You have to keep talking, even if it is a ‘good morning,’ just some form of communication to let them know you’re thinking about them, that you appreciate them,” said Jessica Houle, junior nursing major.
If both sides are determined to make it work, it can. One of the upsides of a long-distance relationship is that you learn to miss and appreciate one another.
Thanks to the Internet and technology, staying in touch with you partner is not as hard as it once was.
With things like Skype and FaceTime, regularly keeping in touch with your significant other is much easier.
Avoiding dangerous situations that will cause you to put your relationship into jeopardy is always a smart decision. If you would not want them doing something, then it is a good idea to not do it yourself.
Ultimately, distance should never be the end of a relationship. If anything, it tests the strength
of the relationship. It is important to make time to talk to one another, to be genuine with your words and to open up to them with what you are thinking and feeling.
“Every relationship is challenging, no matter where you are. But if you are happy, it is better to be with them than without them and not even try,” Houle said. “When you do see them, it makes the moments that much more special.”
To keep your relationship alive and exciting, plan things together so you both have something to look forward to.
Plan a Skype date, your next visit together, where you see your future with one another. These simple ideas can keep the relationship positive and keep both sides motivated to make the relationship work.
