Having a friend that goes to a different college than you can be pretty difficult. However, under all the “I miss you” and “What am I supposed to do without you?” complaints, there are actually some blessings in disguise.

1. You get to meet their new friends, and they get to meet yours.

Going to a new school with your best friend now 3 hours away rather than 30 minutes away can be really scary. You’ve spent years and years getting to know this person, their ins and outs, their likes and dislikes, and you’ve finally grown accustomed to all their little quirks, and, just the same, they have grown comfortable to yours. But, the nice thing about being far apart is that each of you will meet new people. I have truly met so many amazing friends in college, and I want nothing more for my high school best friend and my college best friends to be able to meet each other.

2. You get to live vicariously through their life.

Since you aren’t able to spend every waking moment with them, you get to hear all about it afterwards. Although it isn’t as great as sharing the moment, it’s still nice to get all the details later. It’s like you’re getting to live a double life because you are not only experiencing your own, but you are also basically living in their shoes with all the updates via snapchat, text, and phone call. You know all about the mean professor that wouldn’t change their grade, the cute boy they sat next to while eating, and the time they tripped while walking to class.

3. FaceTime dates are the best.

Sometimes it seems that you two are constantly playing phone tag because one person is always busy at the moments the other one calls, but when you two both get it right and the phone rings just as you are about to call them too, there isn’t a better moment. Minutes can quickly turn into hours, and, before you know it, you are both caught up on any and everything that has happened in each other’s lives. But, even when there isn’t much to catch up on, just being on the phone while doing other stuff like getting ready or doing homework is nice because it’s like they are right there with you, just like old times.

4. They will always be there for you.

You know that your friendship is real because it shows that they really want to make the effort to stay in your life. In high school, you saw the same people every day. You wouldn’t know whether you were friends by convenience or truly friends. Because of this, when you go to college, you see who really makes the effort to check on you and see how you’re doing. Since they have managed to stay in your life despite the hundred missed calls and unanswered texts, because both of you are busy, you know that the friendship is real. You know that they will always be there for you, and if you were really in a dire situation, their friendship radar would signal and they would answer your call in a split second, no matter what they were doing.

5. You always have something to look forward to.

After those long semesters of grueling homework and endless studying, you can’t wait to go home for winter, spring, or summer break because you will get to catch up with them. You two already have so many fun adventures planned out that you don’t even know if you will have time for it all. There is never a dull moment when the two of you are together, and it’s like nothing has even changed at all. It feels like such a celebration when you two finally get to hang out again, and you always get to celebrate the fun holidays together... which is a bonus because they are able to eat just as much food as you.

So, whether you currently have a best friend at a different college or you will soon, I promise that it’s not as bad as you think. Of course, it won’t always be easy, but true friendship can overcome, and will always overcome, the miles that separate them. Although it's hard, you'll grow closer because of it. You'll be able to grow in different ways but still manage to be the same people. So, to my best friend at a different college, I love you.