Many people don't want to get into a relationship in college -- especially not a long-distance one. "What's the point?" They ask. We're still young enough that we want to remain free from being tied down, and also old enough that the idea "You break up or you get married" is very real ... and very scary. And a long-distance relationship seems to give you all the so-called "negatives" about being in a relationship and none of the "positives." Well, after being 50 percent of a long-distance relationship for roughly five semesters and counting, here is why I don't regret a thing (in the form of questions I've received about my relationship status).
1. What's the point in dating someone you can't actually be with?
Well, first of all, we do spend time together. Maybe not as much as two people who live close to each other, but we visit each other when we can and you best believe that breaks are the best damn time for our relationship. But more importantly, we have decided that we liked each other so much that we would be together even when we have to wait long periods of time between seeing each other. It's the same reasons as why anyone dates anyone.
2. Don't you ever want someone closer to you?
Well, I would prefer if my significant other was closer to me, but there is a reason I chose them and not "someone closer to me." (Because they're pretty special.) Yeah, before we began to date we both thought about whether we should wait for someone who goes to the same university, but we liked each other so why waste that?
3. How did you even get into the relationship?
My favorite question to answer because I believe our story is better than any other couple's. However, I'll spare you and just say that most people meet their long-distance significant other through mutual friends or they know each other from back home. (For me, it was both.)
4. Isn't it hard?
Heck yes, it is. It's the worst when you have a bad day and all you want is to cuddle up with your S/O and they're hundreds of miles away. But it makes each reunion that much sweeter. It's hard not to be jealous of their friends that get to see them all the time (and you hope they don't take that for granted), but you also know that they feel the same and you wait for your next Skype date.
5. Does it even feel like you have a boyfriend?
Well, yes, what a silly question. It's the exact same as any other relationship, except we happen to go to school hours apart.
6. Why would you want to be tied down?
I think this question can be asked of anyone in a relationship. But in the end, it comes down to wanting to be with this person more than not. I was personally very hesitant to get into a relationship in college, much less a long-distance one. But we had a conversation, and in the end I knew that I would rather have a boyfriend than not have him at all. (Romantic, isn't it?)
When it comes to being in a long-distance relationship, I think that you actually get more freedom. You have every aspect of your day-to-day life to do as you please. Yeah, grocery shopping might be more fun if I could text my boyfriend to come with me, but I can go whenever I want to. I can make plans to hang out with my friends and not worry if he wanted to do anything that night. I don't have to worry if we're spending too much or too little time together.
7. Is it even worth it?
100 percent yes. It's hard to be in a long-distance relationship. You miss that person all the time and have to carve out an entire weekend instead of just a few hours to go on a date with them. But you do it only because they are worth it.
