The Samford Crimson

Issue date: 5/6/09 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Edgerly Perreault

High school sweethearts can make wonderful relationships. They're full of proms, football games and far too many commitments.

After dating someone in high school for a considerable amount of time - about three months on a high schooler's calendar - deeply felt commitments begin to surface. These commitments run the gamut from, "Sweetheart, of course I'll take you to prom!" to "I'll love you forever and always."

Yes, they're sweet testimonies to young love, but we've seen what happens when one or both parties enroll in college. Life and distance separate the young couple. New people come into their lives. The relationship, shockingly, fails to stand the test of time or even the first semester of freshman year.

Does absence truly make the heart grow fonder?

We're approaching summer break, and the question on my mind revolves around relationships. The separation is never easy. Where did this dumb cliché come from anyway?
In high school, we believed that we'd marry our high school sweethearts and live happily ever after. We've all heard of success stories, so why couldn't it be us?

Absence - in my case - failed to make the heart stronger.

I dated my high school sweetheart for two years, went to Samford's freshman orientation, drove home and called him up with bad news.

I knew that the high school relationship would never last across 500 miles and two separate lives. All of the high school memories in the world couldn't sustain us through four years apart. Besides, I have to admit, the guys at Samford are really attractive.

I suppose the heart can grow fonder in certain ways. Whenever I'm away from someone for any period of time, I tend to remember the good times. The little things about them that annoy me fade into the back of my mind.

Phone calls, texting and internet communication becomes vital. With no face-to-face contact, kissing emoticons and "I love you" text messages sustain even the loneliest of days.

I have to congratulate those high school sweethearts reading this who are still together. I applaud your commitment, and I admire you deeply. For me, however, it just wasn't in the cards. I suppose we can't all be Cory and Topanga from "Boy Meets World," right?

For those of you without a "significant other" this summer, your heart grows fonder from the absence of your college friends. There's just something special about those midsummer phone calls and fall semester reunions with your friends. Facebook becomes more important over the summer, and each text is like a conversation over a cup of coffee.

The summer break offers a chance to relax and get reacquainted with old friends from home. I'm encouraging you to enjoy relationships of all kinds. Get to know your parents, old friends and new acquaintances during the times that you sit and wait for a text message from your significant other. Long-distance relationships can work, but don't overlook the blessings that are around you.

Christine Taylor is a junior English major from Brooksville, Fla. She can be reached at
cetaylor@samford.edu.

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