My best friend and I met the first day of freshman year. We sat next to each other during our first period choir class, hoping that the other wasn’t crazy and that maybe somehow we would both make it through that first year of high school alive.

Through the next four years, we laughed, we cried, and we laughed until we cried. There were many choir concerts attended and football games watched together. We spent too many hours just talking, realizing how alike we really were.

Now, four years later, we are both freshman again. Only this time, over 1,000 miles stand in between us. As I did with many of my friends, we promised to FaceTime every week, and write each other cute letters about the guys we meet and the classes we take. However, if I’m being really honest, we’ve only FaceTimed twice, and mailed each other nothing in the month that we’ve been apart.

A cynic in this situation would say that we really aren’t best friends anymore, that we’ve let the distance get between us. The naïve optimist would say that we can get through everything without a doubt. Yet the realist in me knows that even though it won’t always be the same high school relationship, she will always be there.

I still believe she’s my life long best friend.

She’s the one that texts me randomly about how much she misses me. She’s the one I text when I’ve met a cute boy. She’s the one who helped convince me to go Greek, and then listened to me recount my entire recruitment week.

Eventually, we are both going to make new friends, and even have best friends that aren’t each other. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. I’m not the person that’s most convenient for her to tell all her secrets to, and she can’t come over at a moment’s notice to eat ice cream and watch bad reality TV. She is however, the one I will run home to when Christmas comes around. She is the one I will still have inside jokes with 20 years from now. I will not let her slip away because she’s there and I’m here and it's, “just too hard.”

Though, sadly, many friendships die because no one is willing to make an effort. People give up so quick because it’s easier that way. Who wants to be sad about a friend in a different state when so much is going on right here? That’s the difference between friends, and best friends. I’m not sad that my best friend is in a different state. Sure, I wish I could see her more often, and that we could share the many new experiences that come with college, but I’m happy for her. I’m glad she found a place to call home, and people that take care of her. Best friends will get through the long distance and past the different schedules. Best friends will get over not knowing every little thing about the other’s life. Best friends will keep caring about you, even when they can’t physically be there when you need it the most.

Winnie the Pooh said it best: “If there is ever a tomorrow that we are not together, there is one thing you should always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is: even if we’re apart, I will always be with you in the heart.”

Best friends will remain if you try. It seems hard now to keep in touch, but several years down the road you’ll be glad you did. It will be worth the late night phone calls or random texts now in order to later reminisce on all the great times you shared.

My best friend is forever.