Everybody has a best friend, whether it be a lifelong one or one of just a few years. One thing is for certain: best friends do everything together. Not only that, but they plan to do everything together in the future! They will talk about how they will live in the same area and be neighbors, have "mom's wine night" when they have families and of course, they will talk about how they are going to the same college to make even more awesome memories together. Now all of that is great, but I strongly believe that best friends should go to different schools.
1. It gives you and your bestie space to grow independently.
If you go to different schools, it gives you chance to explore aspects of your life without any pressure from a friend to do the same as them. It lets you branch out and learn what you love. Otherwise, if your best friend really loves one major or career path, it will make it seem more likable to you as well. However, that bias won't be around the rest of your college career, and soon you'll realize it isn't as great for you as your friend made it seem.
2. It lets you branch out and make new connections.
This one I think is super important. If you and your BFF go to the same school, chances are you are going to inadvertently cut yourselves off from others. Think about it. You both are at this new place and don't know anyone. Therefore, you stick together because it is safe and comfortable and is what you are used to. This prevents you from talking to new people because the urge to make friends in a new place dips drastically when you have someone you know well already there. So you already made your new circle of friends to be much smaller.
3. There are no longer the times when you get sick of being around each other so much.
Face it, everyone has been annoyed or whatever choice of word you would like with their best friend. And that's OK! Everyone needs space every once in awhile. But, if you go to college together, then you will be around each other all the time, 24/7. Because more likely than not, you will room together at school. So you will have no space to yourself. Even if you aren't living together, you will practically live in each other's dorms so the same result would occur. This could put strain on your friendship, and actually push you away from each other if you don't get "you" time. Living away from each other prevents all of this and lets the happy parts of your friendship thrive and be more prominent.
4. Summer break will be amazing.
You haven't seen your best friend in months. Finally, summer break comes around, and you can finally be reunited. You will spend the majority of the first few weeks catching up and telling college stories. Listening to each other and being so happy for them about how awesome their year went. The rest of the summer will be like normal though. Except one thing. You're bond will be stronger. It is true when people say distance makes the heart grow fonder. You have missed each other so much, that you will be grateful of your time together even more so than normal. And lemme tell you, that leads to many more awesome memories.
So yes, best friends are attached at the hip. And yes, it is a good thing to still be a part of each others' lives as you both move into adulthood. But sometimes space away from the people we love most brings more blessings than time always together.
