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When I think about my freshman year at Syracuse University, the first thing that pops into my head isn’t the classes, the dining hall food or the awkward icebreakers. It’s the people. I met my two best friends in the spring who defined my first year.

They’re the kind of friends that I can talk with about absolutely anything and everything, whether serious or funny. We grew close through late-night movies, sleepovers and 2 a.m. talks when no one felt like sleeping. We’d found a community with each other, and this feeling of belonging only continued to grow throughout the second semester.

But then summer arrived and things changed. The two of them transferred to new schools.

I was sad to see them go. They were the people that I’d become closest with and they’d made my freshman year experience so memorable. As much as I wanted to beg them to stay, I knew this was something they had to do. It was in their best interest to leave for personal reasons, and it was my job to support them. After processing as best I could, I supported their decision.

It wasn’t easy to accept the fact that we wouldn’t be spending our sophomore year together. I worried that physical distance would break the bond we had or that it would diminish because we weren’t all at the same school. Yet somehow, it hasn’t.

We still found a way to talk all the time. We now FaceTime regularly to catch up, laugh or just talk about our day. It means so much, despite being through a screen. It’s comforting and reminds me that closeness doesn’t always rely on physical proximity.

But being physically on campus without them was still an adjustment. I have other friends from freshman year, people I like and feel connected to, but those friendships have changed. Some of them have just fizzled into more of a hangout-type relationship.

Maintaining constant stability of my long-distance friendships, no matter how much space is between us, provides comfort and familiarity that makes navigating friendships on campus so much easier.

I’ve been meeting new people recently, typically through class or mutual friends. We’ll sit together in lecture, grab food after class and text here and there. I’ll be honest, though, it’s harder to make those friendships carry the same meaning.

It takes effort and time to form a real authentic connection. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that college friendships are always in transition. Some last, some fade and some transform completely. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but once you’ve found your people you shouldn’t let them go. It’s important to focus on the ways to maintain foundational relationships even when external matters make it feel impossible.

Even though my closest friends are now at different schools, our connection hasn’t weakened. If anything, staying in touch through FaceTime has shown me that real connection can span miles. While I continue to find my people here, I’m grateful for the ones I’ve had and the prospect of those to come.

For anyone currently in a long-distance friendship, I know how frustrating it can be at times, maybe even discouraging. But don’t lose sight of what’s important. Long-distance friendships are real, meaningful and absolutely worth the effort. They take dedication and hard work, especially because you’re not seeing each other regularly.

You have to be intentional. Make time for check-ins, send the random “How’s your day?” text and show up in ways that count even when you can’t be together. It’s not always easy, but when you put in the effort, you build something strong. In the end, you’ll realize that these are the people you can count on and rely on, no matter the distance.

Autumn Clarke is a sophomore majoring in broadcast and digital journalism. She can be reached at auclarke@syr.edu.

Published on September 28, 2025 at 7:19 pm