Coming back to school is a time of many transitions. You get to reunite with friends on campus, but you sadly have to part with your friends from home. Especially when your colleges are far apart, it can be hard to go months without seeing your bestie. Here are some tips to stay close to friends, even when you can’t see them in person.
1. Phone Calls
It seems like something really small, but I can’t stress how much talking to your friends on the phone can help. My best friend and I texted almost every day during my freshman year, but it wasn’t until sophomore year that we started talking on the phone regularly. It’s so much easier to have a long conversation through the phone. Even talking for 20 minutes can feel like you spent more time with your friend than texting all day might.
2. Snail Mail
There’s nothing worse than making the trek down to the College Center to check your mailbox and finding out that it’s empty. Start writing letters to your friends at other schools! Not only is it a cool way to talk to friends, but getting a letter can make your day. It’s something you can pull out to reread when you’re really missing your best friend and you’re giving them the same thing.
3. Plan a Visit
One disadvantage to the trimester system is that our term breaks don’t usually line up with those of semesters. This means that during our fall and spring breaks, we end up at home when our friends are still away. Although it can be tricky to coordinate, it can also be really fun to visit your friend while they are still at school. At many schools, you can even join your friend in their classes for a day. Seeing other campuses and getting to know the place your friend is spending their time at can be a good bonding experience.
4. Watch Something Together
One of the hardest parts of being away from a friend is that you aren’t sharing any experiences. You tell them about your friends and classes, and they talk about theirs, but there is no overlap. It can feel like you are really distanced from someone when you have nothing to share with them. Finding a show you both like and watching the episodes at the same time can be a great way to feel like you are spending time with them. For me and my best friend, it’s Rupaul’s Drag Race. When new episodes are airing, we both watch them on the same night and call each other to talk about it. When you’re watching your show, it feels great to know that your friend is watching the same thing and thinking of you.