As a recent New York resident, I’ve had to say goodbye to a lot of really good friends, at least in the physical sense. Some of my friends live in Texas, others still in Wisconsin where I grew up, and some in Illinois and Minnesota. Though I’ve found some amazing people in the city and continue to grow my friendships at school, there are so many people I’ve met throughout my time in the midwest who’ve shaped the person I am today, and with whom I’ll always stay in touch.
Leaving for school can often mean parting ways with some of our closest friends, and it can be hard to stay in touch in such a big city. New York can be especially overwhelming and take up a lot of our energy, and it can be hard to stay in touch during such a busy time in our lives. I’ve definitely been noticing this in my own life these past few months since moving to New York, and though I wish I could say it’s been easy balancing schoolwork with long distance friendships, it’s not always that simple. From battling timezones to work schedules, it can be hard to find the time to really converse and connect with our people. Just recently I’ve started learning how to balance my long distance friendships as well as my life in the city, and it’s proved to be incredibly rewarding and important to both my well-being and my relationships.
One of the most successful ways I’ve been able to stay connected is to plan ahead, especially when it comes to phone calls and FaceTimes. Every week, I find time to talk on the phone and really catch up with my friends. I’ve found it’s really important to find time to actually talk, rather than just text, and just hearing a friend’s voice can be really rewarding after a long week of classes. It may not be the same time every week, but working these calls into your schedule can be really crucial to keeping those friendships alive. Recently, I’ve been mapping out my week in order to create a better work-life balance and plan some time to socialize with friends, and honestly it’s really helped my mental health.
I’ve also found that media can be a great way to bring people together. For example, my friends and I decided to start a book club in order to stay connected through our love of reading! Each month, we decide on a new book to read, and just knowing that I’ll be able to talk about something I love with the people I love on a regular basis helps me keep going during a stressful week. We’ve also planned virtual movie nights and watch parties for some of our favorite shows! It can be hard when you and your friends are living such different lives in different parts of the country, but connecting over a shared passion can be one of the best ways to stay in touch.
Finally, one of the easiest things that has helped me stay connected is celebrating the small things. Whether it be getting a good grade on my latest assignment or getting accepted to an internship, just sending your friends a quick text to update them can help create this sense of connectedness and comradery, even from afar. In a city as busy as New York, we don’t always have time to call, and though of course texting is not the same, just giving your friends a quick update can be incredibly rewarding and spark great conversation! Long distance friendships definitely come with their own struggles, but I’ve found that these hardships can make our relationships even stronger in the long run.
By Katrina Kallas
Katrina Kallas is a first-year graduate student at The New School, studying creative writing with a concentration in fiction. Originally from Wisconsin, they enjoy writing about relationships, friendships, and personal values. In their free time, they write fictional stories on a variety of topics and hope to publish a novel after they graduate.
For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for our newsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.
Tags: college experience, community, Friendship, values