Before going to college, I had never left the state of Georgia, besides the occasional vacation to Florida. In high school, I had been preparing for a long-distance relationship (which didn’t even make it that point) and never realized I would have to put in that same preparation towards my friendships. At first, it felt easy; Call whenever I have time. As a freshman with few friends and no academic awareness, this was working. But what happens when I eventually have a social life and put effort into my classes?
My sophomore year of college, my best friend and I did not talk for a couple of months because of the frustration of imbalance and miscommunication. Luckily, the universe could not keep us apart and brought us together again right before Junior year began. Thanks to that distance, we have been able to create a system that works for us, and we are stronger than ever!
- Designated Facetime Activity
Every Wednesday, my friends and I play Minecraft on a shared realm. I have appointed the time slot from seven p.m. to 10 p.m. (sometimes over) for them. Having an activity gives us something to look forward to and build on together. It’s exciting to plan our next builds and watch each other crash out because we died for the fifth time.
- One-on-One Call/Memorize Each Other’s Schedules
My best friend and I have a call outside on Wednesday. Every Tuesday, I call my sister at seven p.m. and my best friend after around eight p.m. For another one of my friends, I call him every Monday. I have memorized their schedules to plan for them individually. It lets us be honest about how we are doing without people talking over us.
- Appreciation
Sometimes showing someone that you appreciate them is hard in long-distance situations. But it’s the little things that matter. My best friend sends me pictures of something she wanted to show me or something that reminded her of me. I like to film TikToks and repost friend appreciation videos.
I wouldn’t be where I am without my friends. Every friend I have has shown me something I could not see for myself. My friends are people I want to mirror and be like. I don’t have surface-level friends; I need ride or die friendships. I want my friends to know that they are special to me.