Friendship: A Connect Stronger Than WiFi.
They were there for you the day you broke your arm and you were always there for them. The morning she missed the bus, the night he broke her heart and the summer her parents got divorced. No matter the time you were just down the block or even across the street. That was until the dreaded day came and you all said your goodbyes. You packed your car with freshman essentials, gave them one last hug and hoped for the best as you all blinked away tears. How could you travel 200+ miles in the opposite direction of your friends? You each have the answer to your troubles in your book bags, in your back pocket or even in the palm of your hands.
Very often we don’t realize the power our smartphones have to connect us to the world. With a few simple taps we can be talking with someone in a different state, a different time zone or even a different country. In the past it would take weeks for a simple exchange of letters through the mail but today messages can be sent, received and replied to in a matter of minutes.
How did we not think of this sooner? Our phones have the power to connect us despite the distance between us, and so the four-hour phone calls, six-way video chats, 11 group messages and 98 day Snapchat streaks became very real. I was talking and or seeing my friends so often that I actually felt as if I was still just down the block.
The Snapchats came flooding in early in the morning before class for an approval of the day’s outfit choices. It’s a good thing we all had 9 a.m.’s or we all would have missed class if it was any earlier. We would send study tips the night before exams, as well as motivational words. I always felt a weight lifted off my shoulders as my girls told me they believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. Good luck messages would often comfort me as I walked to what felt like my doom, but nothing beats the replies they would send me after I share my A+ grade on the test they knew I stressed so hard over.
It is a good thing our phone plans all consisted of unlimited minutes or our parents would kill us for the countless hours spent talking on the phone. The conversations ranged from the cute boy in her Intro to College Lit class to how many grams are in a pound. Some nights tears were shed through the phone from broken hearts and mean girls who had way too much to say. We could always count on each other to make us laugh during times where even smiling seemed impossible.
We Face Timed after we washed our makeup off and put our retainers in. Our appearances did not matter because we knew we all had no right to judge after hearing who had two midterms, a five page paper and dorm drama all in one day. Just being able to see their faces as we shared both failure and triumph almost made us forget the distance that divided us.
I know it seems like being away from your click will be hard and miserable, but remember they are only a text or phone call away. They will continue to be your support system, your rock and your shoulder to cry on despite the miles that lie between you. Although the group chat can be quiet some days and, you may receive a Snapchat of your BFF out having a blast with a girl who reminds you a lot of yourself, just know that the friendship that is between you all is stronger than WiFi. . You will never lose it.
