Lauryn Oglesby, a senior at Kent State University, sits in her apartment, waiting for the text from her boyfriend who lives over 100 miles away in Pittsburgh. 

“It’s been about six months and it does not get any easier,” said Oglesby’s boyfriend, Luke Bauer. “I am enlisted in the Army but have not had to go away while dating Lauryn. Even though I am not across the world from her, it still feels like it at times, because she is in college and I am working in my hometown.”

They met on a dating app called Tinder while living in Pittsburgh in March. Oglesby then went back to school in the fall and this is when their relationship became long-distance.

Oglesby expressed that she feels the same way but ever since they had to make their relationship long-distance, she has grown as a person. 

“I think it’s healthy to have some time away from your significant other, so you can learn more about yourself and be independent while they are doing the same,” said Oglesby. “And the time apart from each other makes the relationship feel more exciting when we do get to see each other.” 

In a scientific study, “researchers from Cornell University and the City University of Hong Kong found that distance can breed intimacy.”

Bauer drives up to Kent to see Oglesby every two weeks or so, depending on their schedules. Lauryn is in her last year of college and said she is focused on graduating in the fall, but also wants to have fun with her friends, too.

“I feel like everyone gets jealous, but in a long-distance relationship, jealousy can cause arguments which are horrible to deal with many miles away from each other,” Bauer said. “Communication is crucial, because in order to have a healthy relationship, Lauryn and I FaceTime when one of us is upset to talk face-to-face instead of texting so we can see their emotions and solve the problem.” 

According to an long-distance relationship article in the Daily Kent Stater, “All relationships require work, [especially] long-distance relationships. [They] require a few important qualities in order to be successful: communication, trust and romance.”  

Outside sources such as social media and iPhone apps can make the relationship difficult, as well as be a good distraction when you are not with your significant other. Snapchat, Instagram and applications such as TikTok can cause insecurities between one another but can be a good way to get your mind off of missing them.

“A piece of advice I would give a couple that is about to become a long-distance relationship couple would be to trust your significant other and prioritize your schedules so you can always set time to talk to each other,” Oglesby said.

Jennifer Lasik covers relationships. Contact her at [email protected].