Friends for life?

College freshmen are hit with the normal dilemmas of having enough money and getting homesick. But what about keeping in touch with your best friends? Is it possible to keep a lifelong friendship going when distance is thrown into the equation? How can you balance your old friends while making new ones at school? You don’t want to forget about your high school buddies, but a key part of college is meeting new people, right? A good friend can make the transition easier. Here are some tips for keeping your old friendships strong.

Tip 1: Make contact every day
The possibilities for communication are in your favor. Keep all of your friends’ e-mail addresses in a separate folder so you can select “high school friends” for a quick e-mail. Send general messages for both friends and family to cut down on your typing time.

Tip 2: Remember birthdays
Remember important dates, such as birthdays and anniversaries, so you don’t offend any past memories you’ve made. Set your computer or cell phone to send you an automatic reminder about birthdays. Even better, take the extra effort to mail a homemade card to your best bud.

Tip 3: Take a road trip
Invite your high school mates to your school for a weekend. Having your old friends meet the people you hang out with at school will make it easier for conversation. You can give them a tour or take them out for the night to catch up.

Tip 4: Set up phone dates
Establish a weekly or monthly time when you and your buds can chat to avoid telephone tag. Three-way calling might cost more, but it’s better than telling an hour-long story twice!

Tip 5: Don’t ignore your old pals
When you have a break (like at Thanksgiving, Christmas or spring break), step away from your new pals and have a nice vacation with your old friends. Take lots of pictures, and make copies for all of your buds to enjoy.

Article provided by www.nextSTEPmag.com

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