Whether you just arrived at college this past fall as a terrified freshman or you find yourselves as a confident incoming senior, I'm sure there is someone leaving you due to the consistent ceremony entitled, graduation. If graduation is supposed to be something amazing and heart-wrenching, why does it hurt so awfully when we loose hold of the people we love because of this inevitable reality? Will our relationships with our graduated loved ones ever be the same? I'm definitely not a psychic, but I do have some insight to share with all of you!

I found myself loosing some important people in my life this May because of the University of Arizona's commencement ceremony. I convinced myself some of my best friends were leaving me and I would eventually loose their shoulders to lean on forever and that thought utterly terrified me. Some of the friends I found in the now graduates of Arizona have been smiles on a dark day, shoulders to cry on, mentors, and wiser caring souls. I knew my life would change because change is obviously inevitable, but change didn't have to include the loss of some amazing relationships I wasn't ready to let go of.

CHANGE IS INEVITABLE but you do have control of the relationships you decide to maintain. There will always be a handful of people you once were close with that you will slowly drift away from, but if you truly connect with someone, relationships can withstand distance of any kind! If you went away to school, like I did, I think about the friendships I have maintained over the past few years since I lived in New Jersey. Of course there are some friends I've lost contact with, but the people I truly connected with are still some of the most important people in my life. Connections don't end with change; they may grow even stronger.

Although maintaining a friendship with some of your newly graduated friends is possible, it isn't a piece of cake. Long distance friendship is sometimes just as complicated as a long distance romantic relationship. It takes effort, from both parties, to make any friendship work, especially one withstanding long distance. Don't forget to check in at least once a week, every two weeks or once a month to let them know you care, make time to spend with them or visit them, ask them about their new normal but be sure to include some facts about your life to keep them in the loop, and be sure to communicate your feelings efficiently with them. Once you are used to the distance, you will be able to get into a routine of not having them around as often as you would like, which will make seeing them even more special.

Besides missing your loved one due to the change of routine, you may find yourself lacking some of the characteristics they brought out in you because of their absence. Although these people may have brought out these qualities in you because of their own unique personalities, those characteristics are still inside you and you have the ability to display them to others with or without your fellow friends. If anything, channel those qualities you admired in your friends and bring them out in yourself in order to pay tribute to your friends and make yourself an improved soul. Change can be an amazing thing and can truly make a person grow spiritually and emotionally.

Although it will hurt initially as reality eventually sets in and you realize that change is indeed, inevitable, you will most likely grow as a person and find your relationships strengthen with the newly graduated friends. Just remember that there is a rainbow after every storm and that pain is necessary to fully experience joy. Congratulations to the Class of 2018 and may you find happiness and peace within your futures to come!