“Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, the other is gold. A circle is round, it has no end. That's how long I want to be your friend!”
I’m sure everyone has heard this phrase since preschool, but now that I’m thousands of miles away from all of my closest friends, it now has a new profound meaning. A relationship of any kind only works if both parties are willing to put in the work, so with that being said, here are some things that you can do to keep those who supported you and stood with you all the way up until you left for college.
1. Use social media.
With Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and every other type of social media platform, it is honestly almost IMPOSSIBLE to not stay at least a little connected with each other, even if it means just the daily meme tagging on Instagram or Facebook.
2. Plan times to catch up with each other.
College is always super busy and everyone always seems to be busting their butts just to stay on top of classes, but taking time out every once in awhile to catch up with your besties, whether it be through a phone call or video chat, is definitely a must-do. It gives you a study break while you get to hear all about that new boy in your friend’s life, so it’s a win-win for all!
3. Send care packages.
Yes, I know that most college students are broke and can barely buy themselves treats, let alone ship some off to a dear friend, but even the smallest little thing counts. If you really are broke to the core, a cute, old-fashioned handwritten letter would be a fun surprise to your friend, and I can guarantee you it will make their day brighter, and remind them that you are thinking of them!
4. Have that special little "something."
During my senior trip with my friends, we all got matching bracelets from a little shop at the Santa Monica Boardwalk. To other people, it might just look like a brown braided bracelet, but to us, that little bracelet means a lot more than just a fashion statement. I may not wear it every single day, but it is on my desk where I can see it every single time I sit down at my desk. That bracelet reminds me of the amazing friends that I know I can count on, even though I can’t always talk to them every single day, like we did in high school. Having a little reminder of my favorite people always keeps me going, and hopefully does the same for them too.
5. Plan your next get-together.
Lastly, start coming up with ideas for what to do when you’re all back together! Maybe dinner where you can exchange all the new and fun college experiences you’ve had so far, or maybe just having a low key movie night at someone’s house; it doesn’t matter, as long as you’re all back together. Planning ahead allows you to have something awesome to look forward to when you’re barely getting through midterms or finals season. New friends are great and all, but sometimes, all you need is a little piece of home.