Summer is fast approaching, and that means one thing: summer break! There will finally be time to put down the books and catch up on some fun, sun and summer flings.
For those of you that do happen to meet someone, the thing to remember is that the break does not last forever.
At the end of the summer season, many students find themselves wondering whether or not summer love can survive a semester away and having to make the dreaded decision of whether or not to enter into a long-distance relationship.
The general attitude towards long-distance relationships is that it is best to just not do it. However, as with any relationship, there are many factors to consider before entering into a long-distance commitment.
Trust is a major issue since both people will be residing in two separate cities or states. Many students feel that while absence may make the heart grow fonder, “absence also leads to cheating,” said senior Ernestine Dahn, who has had many friends experiment with long-distance relationships.
However, not all opinions are bad. Senior Alyncia Robinson is currently in a long-distance relationship. “Like any relationship, long distance ones can have their ups and downs, good and bad. I feel that they are a good decision, because they give you a chance to learn about each other on a different level since you don’t always have the opportunity to have that constant presence. You learn to appreciate your time together more,” said Robinson.
Junior Daniel Robinson has been in a long-distance relationship for three years states, “My opinion is that they can work depending on how close the couple is. It is not a good situation if it is a new couple, where one person is in Georgia and the other across country or even if a couple is in similar areas, but the bond between them is not strong enough.”
Time and distance are two of the biggest issues, especially at the beginning of a semester. Most Mercerians know that at the beginning the workload can be overwhelming, especially for freshmen.
Robinson said, “My biggest problem is that I don’t get to see my girlfriend as much as I want. Talking is more important in a long-distance relationship in order to not lose touch.”
Recent Mercer graduate Heather Stevens was in a long-distance relationship for two years. “The hardest part was making time for each other. Obviously, when you’re living in two different places, you’re going to have two different lives. We were both in school and working, so a lot of times it was hard for both of us to get spare time at the same time. We just learned to set aside a certain time to call each other every day, and plan out face-to-face time in advance,” she explained.
However, Stevens said, “It worked out very well. Soon after he finished grad school we got engaged, and we’re now happily married.”
While some students may have positive experiences, there are a number of horror stories associated with long-distance relationships. Trust, time and distance are the main items to consider when entering into the semester.
In regards to long-distance relationships, many students gave the simple advice, “Don’t bother!”
If you are willing to put in the time and effort, a long-distance relationship may be an option for you, but if you are not willing to make some sacrifices, avoid a long distance relationship at all costs.
Longing lovers loathe location, location, location
