Being a senior in high school having a boyfriend in college definitely gets me my fair share of judgment and comes with plenty of obstacles, and that is completely okay, because it isn't for everyone. However, it is for me. Don't get me wrong it is easily one of the hardest challenges I've ever faced in my life, but when you are working through those challenges with your best friend then it isn't all that bad.

On any given day when I tell someone my boyfriend is in college it usually results with a snide remark along the lines of "wow, that must be hard," or "wow, you must really trust him," as if they know him themselves. Which yes, it is really hard, and I do really trust him, I also really love him which helps too. I also usually catch a bit of grief when people ask where I want to go to college and they find out that my dream college is, and always has been the college he happens to go to. With that, everyone tends to question my true intentions for wanting to go there, most people fail to believe that I want to go there for me, or the fact that it is one of the best school for what I want to do in the most beautiful part of our state. Don't get me wrong, him being there is an incredible perk, bit it is not the reason I'm going. He has told my a few stories of people questioning his decision to have a girlfriend in college, especially one who isn't even there, but for the most part, all of his friends and mine send an out poring of support for us. He can be a pretty big adjustment going from being 15 minutes away from each other to 2 and half hours, but it is completely worth it for the right person.

This year is my senior year, and it is just as busy as his freshman year. I balance my missing him with a pretty hectic senior year, clubs, 3 AP classes, yearbook editor, and a job after school, all those things are keeping me busy but I still find time to call him as much as I can, or watch the Office simultaneously via FaceTime, because making time for each other is still at the top of our priorities. We work hard and work together to see each other when we can and talk to each other about all the little things that happen in our day. We get to focus on the little details that once fell through the cracks when we were seeing each other everyday and spending much of our time together.

Being the high school girlfriend, or the "girl back home" can be really hard, but I'm lucky enough to have a great relationship with not only my boyfriend but most of the people he is living with, and I am extremely grateful for that. From the day he moved into college until the day he comes home, and all the time between visits and breaks is very hard. But being away from someone who you used to see every day brings back feelings that have long since been buried in the back of my head. Don't get me wrong I am always excited to see and spend time with him, but seeing someone for the first time after a long time when you had grown used to seeing them practically daily is a great feelings. Butterflies are a feeling you live for again, and just being able to hold their hand is something you would give anything for. We are two years in to a relationship that has been nothing but laughter, joy, and happiness. I am lucky to have met my best friend, and wonderful soul mate so early in life (because looking back at when we met and I was 15 I would not have thought we would be where we are today) we have supported each other through a lot and had many many many more ups than downs, and I don't plan on letting a year of college, or anyone who doubts us, change that. To say this year will be worth it is an understatement. It may be hard and I may cry sometimes (a lot) because I just want a hug and a trip to Chick-fil-a, but there is no one else I'd rather miss.