When people hear about long distance relationships I think they immediately think about how they will not work out and how it is not an "actual relationship." In this article I want to put some of these stereotypes to rest.

I am only eighteen years old, but I do know what true love is. I have experienced it incredibly deeply and I fall deeper each day. My boyfriend and I have been together since October 3rd, 2015. He changed my life for the better and I like to think I changed his life too. We were seniors in high school, we had applied to college, and we knew that if we were not at the same university that things were going to change in our relationship.

Fast forward ten months to August when we had to say "see you later" in a hot dorm room and we started counting down the next fifteen days until we would be physically together again. Tears ran down my face as I walked down the hallway to his mom: I wanted to be strong, but it hurt so much.

No one ever said distance was fun or easy.

Sadness overcame both of us for more than a week while we were trying to settle into our new environment four and a half hours away from each other. It was a weird transition, but I will be the first to tell you that FaceTime has never been more exciting and helpful. Just to see his smile and hear his voice was like magic.

We have now been doing this whole distance thing for over a month now and it is not nearly as fun as seeing each other multiple times a week, but it has given our relationship a new layer and a new outlook.

I have always loved my boyfriend, but now the little things are the big things. Sitting in silence and just holding his hand is the most amazing feeling in the world. I would not trade the feeling of the first hug after two weeks for anything in the world. I trust him with all of my heart and sometimes distance can be trying on trust; that is where our new and approved communication skills come in to make sure that we know what is happening and to make sure that our actions do not make the other feel insecure, anxious, or irrelevant because that is never the case.

Yes, sometimes long distance relationships are too hard for people, but not all relationships where the couple is together everyday work either. Relationships are about commitment, sacrifice, understanding, trust, love, and communication.

Long distance relationships are hard, but hard does not mean impossible or not worth it.

The moments with my boyfriend by my side are worth the days that he does not get to be there.

He is worth the wait and I love him more every single day.