I've been in a long-distance relationship for almost 10 months now. In the span of those 10 months, I've been able to make the eight-hour drive down from East Providence, Rhode Island to Taneytown, Maryland once. Despite the 382 miles of distance between us, we've developed a deeper connection than most people can even imagine.

Ricky is my best friend, the person I go to for anything and everything. He is the most supportive person I've ever met; he cheers me on and listens when I complain about school, work and my various extracurricular activities. He stays up late with me while I finish homework, and he listens to me when I'm jolted awake late at night by some menial task I forgot to do at work. He's always there for me during my anxiety attacks, and always does his best to make me laugh when it's over. He encourages me to work out and eat healthy. For a long time, he was my only friend. In the past 10-months I feel like I've grown so much as a person, and I thank him for all the support he's given me as I try to figure out who I am. I hope I've been even half the support system to him as he's been for me.

Long distance isn't easy, by any means. It's incredibly frustrating to know that you can only see them once or twice a year. You find yourself trying to live your life in the present, but it's easier to focus on a future where you're together. Often times, I find myself stressed out about planning a trip to visit that works with both of our schedules — which is much harder than I imagined. And some days, you miss them so much it's hard to function.

Not all days are bad, though. Communication and trust are the key factors in a long distance relationship. Texting throughout the day, nightly phone calls and even the occasional FaceTime date helps to make it easier. Anything to keep in touch until the next time you can see each other again. The most nerve-wracking fear in the back of both your minds is "What if they find someone closer? But when you know the connection is strong, you also know you have nothing to worry about.

The past 10-months have been difficult, without a doubt. But I can't imagine spending the time with anyone else (figuratively, of course). I look forward to every second I'll get to spend with him, no matter how short every visit may be. Every FaceTime date, every phone call late at night and every text throughout the day brings us a day closer to seeing each other again. I feel incredibly lucky to have met someone like Ricky, who is supportive, caring and willing to make things work from so far away.

Long distance relationships are not for everyone. They don't work for every couple; some people are lucky enough to meet someone they've got a real connection with, but are unlucky enough to have hundreds of miles between them. The stronger the connection, the more likely it is to work.

I believe my connection with Ricky is strong enough to last 382-miles.