Long-distance relationships are not always the easiest relationships to handle, but they are quite common among college students.
Relationship researcher Mary Carole Pistole said that contrary to popular belief, long-distance relationships tend to last as long as, and sometimes longer than, other relationships.
Pistole, an associate professor of educational studies at Purdue University, estimated that at least one-third of college students are currently involved in a relationship with someone who lives in another city or state.
"In long-distance relationships, partners have more open communication," Pistole said. "[They] talk more about the relationship, have fewer trivial arguments and have high-quality time together, which might create a closeness not seen in those who see each other every day."
Pistole also said couples in long-distance relationships have advantages over couples who live close to one another.
"Couples who live far apart are more likely to talk about their partners in conversations, wear something that reminds them of their partners and display pictures of their partners," Pistole said. "People who see each other every day don't feel like they need to do those things."
Ball State University sophomore Danielle Fisher has dated her boyfriend Dustin Goodwin for more than two years. In the spring of Fisher's freshman year, her boyfriend made the choice to join the Army reserves.
Before Goodwin left for boot camp, the couple had to sit down and talk about their relationship and where they were headed.
"I questioned whether or not I wanted to stay with him through the five months of training," Fisher said. "But then I found myself realizing that our relationship was definitely worth it. I knew that if we got through this, we could make it through anything."
Fisher said the hardest part was that, at first, Goodwin was allowed a five-minute phone call every two weeks, but she never knew when the call was going to come.
"We wrote letters a lot too," she said.
And although writing letters was not as good as a phone call, she said it helped.
Fisher said she agrees that having a long-distance relationship is not easy for any couple.
"If the relationship is important enough to both people, they will make it work, and they will come out with a stronger relationship and as stronger people," she said.
Senior Megan Orawood recently got engaged to her boyfriend, Rick Shore, who she has been dating for more than a year. Shore lives in Georgia, where he is in the special forces of the Air Force and is currently attending American Military University.
Orawood met Shore when she was traveling with her sister to see her brother-in-law's graduation from Para-rescue training in Georgia. She was riding a shuttle provided for graduates and their visitors when she first talked to Shore.
"Our relationship started very different compared to traditional relationships, so we knew right away not to put any normal expectations on the relationship," she said. "We took everything day by day and promised to always be very open and honest with each other, which is why I think we have made it work."
After she graduates at the end of the semester, Orawood is planning on moving to Georgia to live with Shore in their apartment.
"I am not nervous about moving to Georgia because I have moved around a lot before," Orawood said. "I am just excited about us starting our life together."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
