The majority of the time, all you hear about long distance relationships are that they never last or they're unrealistic. However, those of us who are in long distance relationships can say otherwise. People who aren't in long distance relationships don't understand your relationship and may not even agree with dating someone who is so far away, but if you truly care enough about your significant other, you will make it work. Coming from someone who is in a long distance relationship where both of us are division 3 athletes, hundreds of miles apart without cars and don't see each other for several months at a time, I can tell you it is still possible to have a happy and successful relationship. I have learned so many lessons throughout my time spent away from my boyfriend, but here are the most important ones.

Communication is key. Not being able to face your other half and resolve problems or express your feelings and thoughts can sometimes make it tough to really get your point across. Being able to communicate with your partner is very important; I've learned that being as open and honest as possible will make things a lot easier. Tell them how classes were, about your weekend plans or how much you miss them; communication really helps keep a relationship healthy. Your significant other wants to hear about your life as much as you want to hear about theirs, and they will love hearing that you want to know about their day.

The true meaning of trust. Living away from each other means meeting new people and having new experiences. You will no longer know your significant other's friend group or what their typical weekends look like. This is when you really need to have 110 percent trust in your significant other; no "what if's" or worrying about who they are hanging out with or what are they doing. Communication comes back into this; be truthful about what you tell your partner. No secrets; whether they tell you or not, your loved one will always have that fear there might be someone better or more attractive. Being able to trust them is important; you should know you can trust them with any decisions they make and what they are doing during that time away from you.

How to be apart. Being away from your best friend is always hard. You obviously miss your significant other and want to be back with them. But this time away teaches you how to be apart. My perspective of my time spent away from my boyfriend is this: I'm at school, he's at school. I have my own life and friends here; he has his own life and friends where he is. We need to make the best of the time spent away from each other. There's no need to sit around and sulk that you're away from each other. This is the time to truly define yourself and find your interests and experiences on your own. I know that, for me, by being away from my boyfriend, I am able to really focus on my education, my friends and my sport; I'm not saying I couldn't do that when we were together, but it gives me more time to really focus on myself. Distance teaches us we need to make the best of the time spent apart and not let the distance affect our lives outside of our relationship.

Cherish the time spent together. Those moments spent together after a long time apart are always bittersweet. You finally get to be with the person you haven't seen for weeks or months.The time you have together is more special since you haven't seen your significant other for some time. Make sure to appreciate the time you have together, no matter the amount of time you have to spend together because every minute counts. Being able to catch up and snuggle up with your better half and go on those dates and adventures you've been talking about for weeks is finally a reality.

It's true when they say distance make the heart grow fonder. There's nothing better than seeing your best friend after a long period of time and finally getting to hug them for the first time. Appreciate the time you have with them; don't take the time for granted. Don't ever give up on your loved one, even on the toughest nights. Yes, long distance relationships can be hard at times, but being with them, is worth it. Take time to show your significant other you miss them; surprise them with visits or gifts and make the time to call or FaceTime. Every little thing counts. If your significant other has a place in your heart, you would do anything to make even a long distance relationship work.