When August of 2015 rolled around, I was stressed about many things. Not only was I going to start my freshman year of college, but I was going to a school hours away from home... and home was where my boyfriend was.
I have never been one to make decisions with other people in mind, but I started to worry about what the distance would do to our relationship.
I feel that there are mixed opinions about starting your freshman year of college while being in a relationship. Some will tell you it's easy. Others may say it takes away from the experience as a whole.
I say it's neither of those things.
The first month of school was hard. I spent all my time meeting new people, experiencing new things, and finding myself wishing he was there with me. I cried a lot, and I also questioned the choice I had made, but never once could I bring myself to even think about ending the relationship I had.
Things got better.
I accepted the situation for what it was, and I gave up the feeling of wishing he was there because the fact is: he wasn't, nor could he be. Spending all my time sad didn't make the situation any better. All it did was take away from the awesome, new things I was experiencing. I was just forced to do so on my own.
The thing is, being hours away from my boyfriend, and going months without seeing him only made our relationship stronger than it was before.
College is said to be one of the best times of your life. The typical description of a Friday night would be going out, drinking until you can't see straight, and waking up in a stranger's bed the next morning.
Why do we idolize this so much?
People make committed relationships at a young age out to be boring.
"Why would you want to stay with the same person for years when you're so young?"
"There's so many hot guys at this school, why do you continue to stay with the same guy since high school?"
"Aren't you bored?"
What people don't understand is: if the relationship you have is real, you can't even imagine breaking it off just to be "free." There's no point for me to end my relationship, just so I can "have a fun weekend." I don't want other guys. I want the one I have.
So yes, there will be nights where you are surrounded by your friends, and the thought of being single may sound appealing for a moment. You will go to a party, guys will hit on you, and you will go home alone, but this doesn't mean that you're not getting the "full college experience."
What you are getting is something so much greater than that.
Throughout the 9 months you are away at school without your significant other, you will grow. You will learn to be dependent. You will learn how to appreciate what you have. You will learn to endure the pain of missing someone, and you will learn what the true meaning of love really is.
To me, distance doesn't matter because the days you spend apart only make the days you spend together that much better. The hugs will be stronger, the kisses will be more passionate, and the smiles will be more genuine.
Overall, I'm thankful I made the decision to go to school hours away from my boyfriend. The main reason being: I found myself.
I got to meet new people and explore new places by myself, without giving up the person I loved. I just got to tell him about it through a computer screen rather than in person.
For those of you who will be going through a situation similar to mine, I am here to tell you that it is possible, and it is worth it.
Love is strong, and if it's truly real, it can withhold anything thrown its way.
