A long distance relationship is not for the faint of heart and should not be taken lightly. It's not for the weak-minded or shallow-hearted. Long distance relationships take honesty, trust and lots of work.

Going into my senior year of high school, I happened to find a girl I genuinely cared about. She was a grade younger, but had a way of carrying herself with an aura of maturity and a hint of self-consciousness underneath. She was, and still is to this day, the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on. There’s something about the way I feel when I’m with her that’s completely different from anything I’ve ever had before. An instant spark, a connection on a sentient level, two souls coming together that understand one another so deeply that no amount of turmoil could uproot us. A bond was formed and grew.

Like many can imagine, what started off as a typical high school relationship soon escalated quickly to a new level of seriousness. Yeah, the “L” word had been dropped, and, at the time, we both felt that we were on top of the world. Never had I ever had someone tell me they love me, or I them. The word had taken on a new and strange meaning to me. It wasn't some fantasy only found in movies or novels--it was a way of living, and a way of seeing the world.

We entered what many would call a “honeymoon stage,” where we could do no wrong to each other. The air tasted sweet, the grass was greener and the sunshine was brighter. Love is mysterious in this way; the world had always been there, yet somehow I had never noticed it before.

Months had passed, and we were still going strong together, having experienced all those annoying high school events (she would argue differently) such as homecoming and prom. As senior year came to a close, graduation was upon me, and reality had soon struck us. I had finally gotten accepted and made a choice of where I was going to college.

I was somewhat of a slacker in my high school days, and didn't take my grades or showing up to class as seriously as I should have. This meant that, instead of getting to attend larger universities, which were only at most an hour away from home, I was destined for a four hour drive across the state and through the Rockies.

We were together every day that summer after graduation, because there was no one I would have rather spent my time with than her. When you're counting down the days to the unknown, every second together seems special. Countless nights cuddled up on couches, midnight hikes and laying out under the stars, envisioning how we wanted our lives to turn out. Summers like that one don't come around very often.

The undeniable truth about life is that it is always evolving and surprising you. It is foolish to bet against life; life is the card master, and the game. It doesn't have to play by any rules, because life is the rules. You have to take what you get and keep moving forward.

Weeks before leaving, I had tried breaking the relationship off with her. This obviously didn't resonate, as a couple hours later we were having Chinese food together and going to the mall to buy me a Penny board. The idea of being broken up was foreign language, and we didn't understand. We tried to separate, but it was a feeble attempt with a half-hearted effort. We soon came crawling back into each other's arms and solidified our decision to try our hand at a long distance relationship.

I remember our last day together as one of the most emotionally rattling and confusing times of my life. Excitement for a new adventure and time away from my parents was mixed with separation anxiety for the girl I had fallen for. Those last few hours together were not the most lighthearted moments, as we both were bracing for the challenge that was upon us.

I counted every step while walking to the car with her to say goodbye. This was the moment that we both had been dreading for so very long. Time stood still in those precious minutes. These were the moments counting down to our greatest leap of faith into the unknown. I remember holding her, soaking in all of who she was, and thinking about what she meant to me. I remember desperately clinging to who we used to be in that moment, wondering if it would be our last. A well of emotion began to spring up as we both wept for our distressed relationship--not ready to let go, but having no choice but to leave.

Such a simple action, but it was one that required every amount of power and strength I had to let go of her. We both dropped into a freefall of uncertainty, where time could only tell how we'd end up.

Those first few weeks at school were incredibly tough. I don't consider myself an outward expressive person and, at times, can be very shy until I feel comfortable with the people I’m around. I missed my girlfriend. My God, did I miss her.

The weeks were filled with countless phone calls a day, checking up and telling each other how much we loved each other, how much we cared for one another. I was growing up, and we were trying not to grow apart.

When you're away from someone you love, it completely sucks. There is no beating around the bush here: being four hours from the girl who has my heart takes its toll every day that we are apart, and it's no walk in the park for her, either.

If one is looking to enter a long distance relationship, be prepared for feelings to get hurt. There are going to be pointless fights over little things that seem so big when you're apart. What puts you at a disadvantage in being away is that you lack the physical contact, and you are unable to smooch it out when you get into arguments. You have to be willing to not always be right and call to make up with one another. Breathe, relax, and move on.

Making it through this year has been life-changing. My first year of college was amazing, and I’ve made so many friends. Above all, I’ve grown up more than I ever would have if I'd been stuck at home. Getting to be on your own brings opportunities for success and failure, but, in the end, it's all about growing and bettering yourself. Having my girlfriend in my life hasn’t always been easy, but I’m very thankful that she has stuck around with me thus far.

I think it's especially important for couples of different ages who are considering long distance to understand that someone is getting left behind. Even if it's not intentional and you try really hard to keep them involved, the person who is stuck at home is going to be miserable. You can bet that I felt horrible leaving my girlfriend behind. I was out on this awesome adventure, and she was still stuck in high school. This is a struggle that you both will have to overcome.

My advice to anyone who is in a similar situation to what I am in is to not make your decision lightheartedly. Don't go in expecting everything to be OK; it never will be. Having faith that your love is strong enough and won't break is good, but don't underestimate the power of distance. Being apart changes people, and if you're not careful, you can lose what the relationship used to be.

As much as I would like to believe people when they say distance doesn't matter and that love conquers all, I’m a realist, and you need to be too. You should be willing to let go of the relationship if it isn’t helping you grow. We are so young, and there is so much life to live. Maybe you are a special couple that can successfully make it through the long distance, and maybe you're not. In my experience, there is no specific mold of a couple who can make it last. The couples who want to be together will end up together, and those who don't will not.

To conclude, if you reach a point where the relationship is no longer helping you grow, you need to be able to say enough is enough and let go. Try not to confuse “attachment” with “love.” Attachment is about fear and dependency, and it has more to do with love of one's self than love of one another. Love without attachment is the purest form of love because it isn't about what others can give you.

If you think you're up to the task, then go for it! A gold coin does not fear the test of a flame because it is pure. Go forth with an open mind and heart, and everything will work out as it should.

One love and blessing to all.