The story of the high school sweetheart is one we’ve all heard: two people meet in high school, fall in love, and live happily ever after. They make it through college and every other hardship that comes in their way —because they love each other.
I met a man I fell so deeply in love with in high school that I never once considered leaving him when it came time to go to college. We briefly considered going to the same school, but ultimately decided that we belonged in different places — and that distance makes the heart grow fonder.
They warn you not to go to college into a relationship. They tell you that it’ll restrict you and you won’t have fun. They will insist that it’s a mistake.
I’m a junior now and my boyfriend and I have been together for four years — and staying with him through college has never been something I regretted.
Long distance is hard, and I’ll admit that the first couple of weekends I wanted nothing more than to be back together with him, but we both knew that it was exactly what we needed to do. If I was sad or lonely while trying to navigate my new home away from home, I knew that he was always there to talk me through it. And if I’d had a bad day or was having a hard time making friends, he was only a FaceTime call away.
Coming into college with a relationship meant that I always had someone to lean on.
I had someone to vent to when I failed a test, and he was always the first person I texted if something exciting happened. He’s been there for me and all of my achievements throughout college, and I’ve been there for his.
If I had broken up with him before moving in, I would’ve missed out on so many memories. I would’ve missed seeing him thrive and make new friends at his school, and wouldn’t have been able to cheer him on when he was making his own achievements. I can be proud and supportive of him from a different campus — and he can still be there for me.
I have someone to show around my school when he comes to visit, and I can visit him when I need to escape from my campus. We help each other with our homework, and talk about the events at each of our schools. And all this time, I’ve never had to lose that touch of home — no matter how far away I went, he’s always been there to remind me of where I came from. The memories I’ve made with my boyfriend are more valuable than the ones I would’ve made without him by my side.
I don’t regret bringing my boyfriend with me into college.
To this day we talk about our future after college: where we’ll move to, what we want to do. He’s my biggest cheerleader and I’m his. We still go out and party (together and when we’re apart), and we don’t hold the other person back from having fun.
Through our ups and our downs, staying with my boyfriend through college has never been a regret. College isn’t a reason to break up with your partner if you both want to make it work. With a little time, dedication, and a whole lot of communication, you can make your relationship work through college (even if you’re miles apart).
