I always wanted to go to college out of state. It seemed so exciting to be able to have new experiences, make new friends, and live far away from home. Since I grew up in Michigan and basically lived there my whole life, I was itching to go on a new adventure somewhere else.
While I’ve had the best time in college so far, there’s also some downsides to being so far from home — one of them being how far away you are from your hometown friends. Some of my closest friends are those from back home, and it sucks that we don’t get to see each other as often. Despite all of this, I feel like we’ve been able to maintain our friendships in whatever ways we can. Here’s some of the ways that I’ve been able to stay in touch with my friends!
Use Technology Effectively
For starters, make use of technology! We’re always talking about the negative effects of technology, but there are lots of positives. Technology makes it so easy to just FaceTime your friends or talk to them throughout the day. Even sending a little text about your day can brighten someone else’s. My best friend goes to school in New York, and sometimes she’ll send me random text messages about what she’s doing — going to class, getting coffee, etc. — and it always makes me excited. It just feels like you’re involved in each other’s lives, even though you’re so far away.
Technology is not only good to maintain individual friendships, but can also be an amazing connector for entire friend groups. My friend group back home is always sending updates in our group chat or fun memes and TikToks that make us laugh. It’s always a good time, and it feels good to know you’re all sharing a hilarious moment together.
Find Activities to Do Together
Apart from staying in touch via technology, it’s great to find things you can do together, even at a distance. Maybe read the same book, watch a TV show together, or paint something together over video call. Whatever it is, you can periodically check in with each other and discuss what you’re doing. I watched part of Squid Game at the same time as my brother (who lives far away), and we would always check in with each other and update each other with our theories. It was a fun way to stay connected, even while we were far apart.
Be There For Them
Another thing I think is important is to put in the effort toward being there for the other person. When someone is far away, you can forget to check in with them or just be there for them when they need you. This could just be surprising them on their birthday (which doesn’t have to be a huge thing), mailing a letter, or checking in with them when their life gets stressful. In the end, you are still friends — no matter how far apart — so being there for them is extremely important.
Try to Meet Up
Finally, try and see each other when you can. Obviously, this can be really difficult in some cases, but I think it’s important to make an effort to meet up. It doesn’t have to be some big elaborate trip. Maybe one of you is near where they are, so you find a way to meet up! Both of you could be going back home at the same time, so make sure to spend time with each other when you’re back. When I was growing up, my parents would always do this since a lot of their friends were all over the country. If we were ever road tripping near one of their friends’ houses, we would make the effort to go to their place, even if it was just for a few hours. It might seem like a short period of time, but it makes such a difference and feels special.
Growing up and getting to leave home can be amazing, but there’s obviously some sadness attached to the experience. I always miss my friends from home, but it’s nice to take advantage of these tips to keep in touch. Besides, with the best friendships, it doesn’t matter how far apart you are — you’re always connected.