College marks new beginnings for most people: a new place, new school, and new friends. This new beginning is especially prevalent when considering romantic relationships in high school; for most high schooler this transition usually includes (from what I’ve seen in my own friend group) a “last summer” before an inevitable breakup or a pact to maintain a long distance relationship no matter the distance. For me and my boyfriend, neither scenario was the case. We went from long distance to living in dorms ten minutes apart at UC Berkeley. This transition was not one that either one of us expected at all, and while the transition has been a jarring one it has completely worth it. Fast forward a week after going from long distance to living in the same zip code and I’m here to impart what the transition may be like, according to my experiences.
Although naturally you’ll want to spend time with your S.O. constantly because you can, you’ll be battling urges to also make friends within your building and classes. Make sure that while yes, you spend more time with you’re SO then you might have in the past, you’re still working towards creating other lasting relationships with those around you. The friendships you’ll make in college could be the ones that last so don’t miss out on a best friend because you were too busy with your S.O.
In the same vein, it’s not unheard of for friend groups to start to collide between you and your S.O. Since you’re both in the same place it would not be out of place for either of you to tag along with the others’ friends. Granted, there should still be space between you two (in that you don’t need to do everything with them), but opening up your friend group can be beneficial especially in the first few weeks when everyone is still getting their bearings and making new friends.
Finally, a noticeable point of the transition is that you’re likely to fight or merely bicker more often. Before, anytime spent together was precious and fleeting; now seeing as time is in abundance, bickering and the occasional squabble is normal. So don’t run for the hills quite yet if a fight breaks out, but stay aware if fighting is all you do: that may be a sign that long distance was the only distance you could handle with your S.O.