This photo is from a scrapbook that Joel Abramson, freshman musical theater major, and Lauren Ehrmantraut, of Florida, are making together about their relationship. Although they constantly communicate through text messages and phone conversations. Becaus

Credit: Carl Schierhorn

Distance can damage a relationship. However, many couples manage to keep close at all times in spite of the miles that set them apart.

Joel Abramson, freshman musical theater major, said he met his girlfriend, Lauren Ehrmantraut, while attending high school in Florida.

“I asked her out when she came in as a freshman, and she rejected me,” Abramson said. “I asked her again the following year, and she rejected me.”

Abramson said he eventually gave up on dating Ehrmantraut, but the two still spent time together throughout high school.

“We still hung out and became best friends,” Abramson said.

Once Abramson graduated high school and moved up to Kent, Ehrmantraut said she started to miss him a lot more than she realized.

Ehrmantraut finally wanted to go out with him, but said she was hesitant because they were far apart.

Abramson said they both eventually realized how much they liked one another and decided to date anyway.

They communicate mostly by text-messaging, Abramson said, but they also often talk to each other on the phone.

“When she and I aren’t in rehearsal, we’re on the phone whenever possible,” Abramson said.

Ehrmantraut is a high school senior in Florida, and she will be attending Florida State next year.

Being a college student makes it difficult for Abramson to see his girlfriend, he said.

“Sadly, we only get to see each other over breaks, though I’m trying to find a cheap flight to come home at least once a month,” he said.

Freshman education major Sarah Alber said she keeps in touch with her boyfriend at Ohio State University, Heath Zuniga, on a daily basis.

“We communicate over the phone every night and during the day sometimes on AIM,” Alber said.

Alber said they talk about what went on throughout the day and anything else that comes to mind.

She said she sees Zuniga almost every weekend.

“A lot of the times when we’re together, we just hang around, eat and be lazy because it’s the weekend,” Alber said. “Sometimes we go out, but we can do that on the weekdays when we’re not with each other.”

If one has an exam or other work to do, Alber said they respect that and don’t expect to be able to talk all the time.

Alber said there are many things that add up to make their relationship work.

“The whole reason we’re able to be together is because we can communicate,” Alber said. “Without communication, there is no successful relationship.”

Alber said she will try her best to make the relationship last.

Freshman nursing major Hannah Abdul said in her relationship with Noah Troyer, a student at Ohio State University, trust is the most important component.

“If you trust the person and truly love each other, everything works out,” Abdul said. “It’s hard at first, but it gets easier as time passes.”

Abdul said they keep each other informed by talking one or two times a day on the phone.

Abdul said she sees Troyer a few times a month since there are only a few hours between them.

Overall, Abdul agreed that communication and trust work hand-in-hand in a long-distance relationship.

“If you don’t communicate, the bond would fade away, and if you don’t trust the other person, it just never will work,” she said.

Contact features correspondent Nedda Pourahmady at [email protected].