So, your best friend is going to college. In another state. Away from you, your favorite hangouts, your general sphere of existence. Some days you're going to feel like the world is ending and some days you'll feel entirely normal. Either way, it's going to be a difficult transition for both of you. Here are 6 ways to make it a little bit easier.
1. Embrace The Full Power of Your Phone
You're probably used to texting your friend every random thought that comes into your head. Keep doing that, but learn how to use your phone in other ways, too. Since you can't see your friend in person, call and Facetime them instead. The phone call is a dying art and some people dislike it, but it's still a valuable form of communication. Just listening to the other's voice will be a huge comfort to both of you.
2. Be Wise About Social Media
Social media is fantastic, but there are pitfalls. Sometimes it can make the distance feel much longer rather than shorter. Your friend will probably be posting about all the fun she's having, the meals she's eating, and the movies she's watching...with people who are not you. When this happens, just do your best. "Like" the photos, then log off Instagram and do something else.
3. Become a Victorian
Now's the time to perfect the art of letter writing, even if you hate your own handwriting. Buy a wax seal and some stickers. Have fun with it! Put in pressed flowers, Polaroids, poems, whatever you feel like. Or just scribble something down on a piece of notebook paper. Your energy will be infused into the letter no matter what, and it will be invaluable to your friend.
4. Go to the Movies!
With the miraculous tools Watch2Gether (for YouTube) and Showgoers (for Netflix), you can find a new movie to watch or TV show to binge. It's a little way to spend a lot of quality time, bonding over something that you both love.
5. Don't Get Resentful
There are times when your friend will be too busy to pay much attention to you and vise versa. This is a major downside of long-distance friendships, but it doesn't have to be the undoing of yours. If you find yourself becoming upset with your friend over something that neither of you can control, take a minute to breathe and think about positive memories you two have shared. Remember that this person wouldn't do anything to intentionally hurt you. Just make up for the lost time as best you can when you do get to talk.
6. Embrace the Change
Maybe you're going to a different college than the one your friend is going to or maybe you're not going to college at all. Either way, the next 4+ years are going to be a period of intense change for both of you. This is a time to discover yourself, make new friendships, maintain old ones, and figure out where you belong in the world. Include each other in as much of this as you can--both good times and bad--and then let go of any fear or anxiety you may have surrounding the situation. It's going to be okay, no matter what.
