You’re walking home alone from a night out. You just failed your first college exam. You can’t tell if the guy you are dating is only talking to you. Who is the first person you turn to?
Yep that’s right, your best friend. But since high school graduation, your best friend is no longer a short 10-minute car ride away. You can’t drive to her house at any hour of the night for a hug while you’re crying your eyes out because the “love of your life” just broke up with you.
My best friend Jamie and I have come to this realization time and time again, but unfortunately a long distance best-friendship is a struggle.
Just this past week, I found out that I didn’t get into the program I needed to pursue the degree I wanted. I put on a front and told everyone at school that it was no big deal, knowing that only Jamie would understand how difficult it was for me. When life didn’t go the way we wanted in high school, we used to just lie in bed, cry and watch sad movies. We can’t exactly do that when we’re thousands of miles apart. It sounds depressing, but when you watch a sad movie you realize your life isn’t that bad at the end of the day. Today may have sucked, but at least you’re not wrapped up in the tragic love story of The Notebook.
Jamie called me to catch up and after just two minutes of listening to me ramble she knew something was wrong. As soon as she asked me, the tears started flowing and just wouldn’t stop. I told her that I wanted to drop out of college and become a McDonald’s cashier (not that that’s a bad thing). She talked me down and explained to me that it wasn’t the end of the world. I just needed to broaden my horizons and try something new.
Throughout high school I stuck to the status quo and followed the easy track. Obviously knowing that college wasn’t easy, I went into telecommunications because I heard it was one of the “easier” degrees.
“Give yourself more credit, you are smarter than you think.” Jamie knows better than anyone that I never trust my abilities, and that it’s time to change my outlook on myself. Time to become a new and more confident Leigha.
Of course you made new best friends in college, but they will never understand you the way your best friend from childhood does. It’s like your best friend from home has radar and senses when you need to sit on the phone and cry. Not having her down the street to cry to or share every great memory with is hard. We call each other for every big decision and every life-changing event.
Being apart sucks – a lot. Not getting into the program sucked – a lot. I now face the realization that I have no idea what to do with my life. I know this is the classic college kid story, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I’m researching new majors like it’s my job and freaking out to Jamie every second of the day. Break can’t come sooner so I can go home, forget about school for a second and hug my best friend.
