Having a community is an important part of any college experience. I thought I understood what "community" meant after seeing all of NBC’s “Community”, but my first year at the University of Dayton (UD) showed me what a community can be. While I thought community meant just working and living together, I was unprepared for the deep sense of belonging I felt. We worked, learned, played, ate and laughed together. My friends and I did practically everything together. Within a few weeks, I found myself with many new friends that were quickly becoming more and more like siblings. UD tries to promote a family spirit so that the “school acts as a ‘second family’” (Characteristics of Marianist Education). During my first year, I came to understand that community, especially here at UD, means having a family of friends. For me, my family of friends made UD my home away from home.

While I enjoy being home and with my family, I do miss being home at college with my friends. Whether or not you still have friendships back home, going home for the summer and not seeing your friends that you saw everyday at college can be hard. For me, the challenge is that so many of us are geographically spread out. With this challenge of distance, how will we continue to be in community with each other? Keeping friendships alive long-distance isn’t easy, but here are some tips you can use to keep friendships just as strong over the summer as in school.

1. Community needs communication.

Direct communication is key to building and sustaining friendships. Be sure to keep in contact with your friends through texts and calls. Words are powerful, so be sure to make them count. While it’s easy to hide behind our screens, don’t let that change the dynamic of your friendship. Stay honest to yourself and don’t be afraid to express yourself. Remember: honesty is the best policy. Don’t be afraid to tell your friends about what is going on in your life, if it’s significant to you I am sure they will be glad to hear about it. Also don’t be afraid to express that you miss them, chances are they miss you too.

2. Stay updated.

Try to keep your friends updated and in the loop through social media like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Also try to stay updated on your friends’ lives by checking social media every once in awhile. If you’ve fallen out of touch, a post on social media might spark an idea and be a good place to restart dialogue with them.

3. Spend time together.

Spending time with friends who are far away can be hard. You can plan a visit to see each other and spend time in person. Traveling may be impractical though, so spending time together can even involve simply being in each other’s digital presence. Try having tea or coffee together over a long Skype call and just chat about anything or nothing. Or don’t chat at all and just enjoy having them near. Be sure to make time for your friends in your life and make them feel valued.

4. Be creative!

Don’t forget that summer is a time for fun and relaxation. Maybe you and your friend(s) could read a book and then discuss it together over a Skype call. Maybe you could play games together. Whether you’re an avid gamer or just want to have fun, your options are endless from playing games on your XBox to challenging each other on Trivia Crack. Try a new hobby together, you can both learn something online or try something from Pinterest.

Most of all, don’t let distance dampen your friendships. Keep the bonds strong and the memories rolling, you’ll see them before you know it in the fall!