As the saying goes, “sometimes you have to find the good in goodbye.” As much as this saying is overused and grossly cliche, I’d also like to add that it is untrue, too. It’s that point in the year again when people are packing up and going to college for the first time. With these big life changes, one thing that every person has to experience is at least one “goodbye” that isn’t so good after all.
Since I’m about to be a college freshman, many of my classmates are spending the dreadful last days with some of their best friends from high school before they have to go their separate ways for college. Everyday there are countless Instagram posts with captions like “only 2 days left together” or “last time we’ll do this for a while.” It’s sad. It’s really really sad. Like everyone is about to have an ugly cry like Kim Kardashian sad. A lot of these people have been together since Kindergarten, especially if you’re from a small town like me. It's the first time you’re going to be away from your friends that you’ve had forever and meeting new people; there's a million emotions going through everyone's minds.
The goodbye you say to your best friend will be the absolute hardest one you will ever say.
You know exactly who it is. That one friend you’ve been on vacation with. The one who you're pretty sure your mom loves more than she loves you. They’ve seen your best and worst days. She's your Christina to your Meredith, the Blair to your Serena.
I know that saying goodbye to your best friend is hard because I’m not saying goodbye to my best friend for the first time like many people are this summer. Sadly, we’ve spent the last 4 years being hundreds of miles and countless hours apart since my BFF moved after the 8th grade, but our friendship has not suffered in the least because of it.
Although goodbye will be hard, from my experience- it will get easier and it will get better.
From having 4 years of long-distance best friend experience, I can tell you that although it may feel like the end of the world, things will get better. You will visit them and they will visit you. You will have countless FaceTime calls and a never-ending Snapchat streak. You will have a countdown on your phone until the next time you see each other. She might even jump out of the mannequins at your local Forever 21 store one day and surprise you (and you will both ugly cry like Kim Kardashian again). Both of your walls will be plastered with photos of each other. Although you both will make new friends, they will rightfully know that nobody can replace their long-distance BFF. Also, after 4 years of long distance friendship, as much as it does get easier, you’ll still always cry a little (even if it's on the inside) when you have to say goodbye again.
4 years later, we’re both going to college in different places. 4 years later we both went to each others High School graduations. 4 years later life has changed in some aspects, but our friendship never will.
The people who are worth it will always find a way and the time to be in your life. No distance or amount of miles can truly take away the people who mean the most to you. Thank you for not only being my long-distance friend, but for being my life-long friend.
