I was in a relationship for most of my high school career, with the same person. When it became time to start thinking about colleges I didn’t want to be the type of girl who chose a guy over her dream school, which just happened to be 250 miles away from his. I wanted to have the best of both worlds. My favorite school and my favorite person. I had seen the movies and heard other people’s stories, so I was sure it was something that I could do. I thought maintaining our relationship miles apart would be easy.

I was wrong.

You will fight. It could be over the littlest things, but you will bicker with one another. Mainly because you miss each other, which yes I know, doesn’t make sense. Why would you fight with someone you miss? But it happens. You’ll get mad he doesn’t text back fast enough and he will get mad that you can’t visit him one weekend due to school. You guys will fight, but you’ll make up within a matter of seconds because arguing with someone you love is a waste of time. And if you have learned anything by being in a distant relationship it is that you can’t waste time.

You’ll want to be selfish, but you can’t be. College is about two things. Your education being number one, and fun being number two. Go out and have new experiences. Do not stay cooped up in your room waiting for your significant other to call. Live your life! You’ll want them to call every second they can and you’ll want to have a night in Face Timing them instead of going out with your friends, but don’t put your life on hold. Go out and experience things you never have before. If your partner loves you they won’t expect you to stop living your life on their account.

When you finally see one another, you can’t take it for granted. When you go up to 2 or 3 months without seeing one another, it is like your birthday or Christmas. The excitement is overwhelming and once you grab onto them you will never want to let go. Now that, is one of the greatest feelings ever. Don’t take it for granted! Spend time with one another, not behind the phone. Go out to eat and be those gushy couples you see holding hands and sitting on the same side of the booth. You’ve earned it!

It is not easy.Do not be fooled by the movies or the novels. This is something you are going to have to work for. You’ll have to learn how to deal with missing one another daily, trusting each other, and making time to talk after a long day. It is going to be difficult, but you can’t give up. You won’t. Because at the end of the day you chose this and you need to make it work.

It is not ordinary. The type of love that comes out of these types of relationships is anything but ordinary. It is crazy and stupid love. It is tiring and rewarding and frustrating. But it is amazing. I promise you that this type of love is something worth fighting for.

Being in a long-distance relationship will be hard.

But it will be worth it.

Trust me.