Many people have told me that a long-distance relationship in college would never work out. Coming back to college after quarantine and being 3 hours away from my boyfriend was a very scary thought. I could no longer just drive to his house after work every night, have spontaneous lake days, or date nights whenever we wanted to but I knew that our past set us an amazing foundation for our future. After moving into college, it was the hardest goodbye but these things are the things that keep us going strong.

Always take time out of your day to call or Facetime.

No matter what time of the day it is, always take time to call or Facetime your significant other. No, facetime isn't the same as being with that person but it does help to see their face and hear their voice. Whether it's just a call about how your day went or even watching a movie over the call together, these moments are an important foundation to keep your relationship strong.

Always tell one another how you feel.

There have been very stressful days with school starting back and it is very easy for me to take my stress out on my significant other rather than just talking to him how I feel. Luckily, my boyfriend always knows when I am feeling these things and encourages me to talk to him about how I am feeling. Days like these are what can make or break your relationship!

Always set a date to see one another again.

One thing that helps me get through the days when I miss my boyfriend is setting a countdown on my phone for the next date I am going to see him. Looking at the countdown helps me stay optimistic! Yes, there are days when I feel that time is going by so slow because I look at the countdown a lot, but I feel it helps.

Suprise one another.

Whether you surprise them with a little gift that gets delivered to their house letting them know you are thinking of them or surprising them in person, this is what keeps the spark alive. I have surprised my boyfriend with a new wallet and new clothes among other things, but these surprises don't have to be expensive. After all, it's the thought that counts.

Every two weeks have a relationship "check-in"

Every two weeks set aside time to talk about things in your relationship that are going well and things that you both need to work on. This time lets you realize how the other person is feeling and helps you understand how to love that other person better.

Being in a long-distance relationship isn't easy by any means but it's so worth it. Overall, communication is the best thing for long distance relationships. Whether you're telling them how much you love them or talking about an issue in your relationship that needs to be fixed, communication is key. Long distance relationships CAN work and are worth it!