<p>I just finished my third year of college, and it was the first year that I had the experience of saying goodbye to good friends who were graduating. Right now we are scattered across the country, keeping in touch through MSN, emails, letters, and blogs. I haven’t done a good job of keeping my high school friends. Even though I still hang out with them while I am at home, I feel like I’ve grown away from them. I’m worried about this happening with my college friends, too. I know that growing apart from old friends is a reality of life, and all we can do is keep the communication lines open and hope for the best. My question to the parents is this: How strong today are the friendships you made in college?</p>
<p>I graduated two years ago - not a parent - but I’ll answer:</p>
<p>My friendships with the college crowd are much stronger than with the high school crowd. I think that’s partly because college friendships are stronger than those in high school. We are scattered around the country (actually, around the world - some friends went to Europe after graduation) but have managed to stay in touch. Even if we don’t stay in touch constantly, we manage to get together whenever we’re in the same area and catch up.</p>
<p>Mostly, I’ve found that I stayed in touch with my very close friends from college and the ones who stayed in the area (I moved for law school, but home is near college).</p>
<p>I’m 49 yrs old and I still have 1 friend from kindergarten (we were together through to HS), 2 friends from college and 1 friend from professional school that I keep in touch with regularly. These are people who I made a strong connection with as I am across the country from all of them. It’s up to you to keep in touch if you value their friendship.</p>
<p>My wife recently spent a weekend with her best HS girlfriend who she lost touch with for 10 years (reconnected with Email through classmates.com). She said they just picked up where they left off and had a great time together.</p>
<p>I’ve got you beat audiophile; I had a mini-reunion last year with two friends I went to preschool with. Though we don’t live in the same state w/ any of our old school chums, we still keep in touch with many (pre school through grad school) . A few are still in the Chicago area, where we grew up and my parents still are; others we visit when we travel or they come to us (though not nearly as often as when we lived in CA). We go to the beach every other year with a close high school friend and his family. If you’re willing to work at it, staying close to your friends is not difficult. In fact, with email and cheap long distance, it’s gotten considerably easier.</p>
<p>Stephable,
I graduated from college in 1974. As a community college transfer, I only had 3 yrs at the big U…but have remained very close to 3 classmates—I attended high school with one of them. We live within a 45 min drive from one another…the Moms meet for lunch at least twice a yr. We host a Xmas Party for our friends and their families every yr…great time for some good food and great conversations. My own daughters always comment how the Moms have TOO much fun…and laughing so loud. They even managed to secretly plan a 25th anniversary party for us a few yrs ago! Two other friends live in Hawaii and Sacramento…we had our first reunion at a local LA restaurant about 3 yrs ago…it was great fun…even duplicated a photo of us that was taken over 30 yrs ago! A few others we don’t see, but we exchange Xmas cards and newsletters. Friendship runs deep…</p>
<p>I graduated from college in 81. Ever since then, I’ve gone to an annual reunion (we did miss one year, though) with my 5 best friends from college. We’ve been in each other’s weddings, we’ve been pregnant together, we’ve gone through career issues together, have gone through a spouse dying, and so on. And now four of us have children who will be seniors this year and will be going through the admissions process.</p>
<p>Still best buds with college roommate from senior year. Haven’t seen freshman, softmore or junior roommies since we graduated in 1980. Has most to do with the connection we felt then, and the desire for BOTH people to keep in touch. Have a handful of classmates I also keep in touch with. Hubby - same school, same year - keeps in touch with one – who married my roommie.</p>
<p>Same thing for HS and earlier – I have a handful of good friends I stay in touch with (email is wonderful). We don’t see each other for ages, but when we do, we pick up right where we left off. There is one person from hubby’s HS still on our Christmas card list…</p>
<p>Still keep in touch with several people from college, but none from high school. College roomie (all four years) was maid of honor at my wedding. She lives several states away, but I visited her just last month. A few years ago several of us college girlfriends did our own little reunion weekend at a country inn.</p>
<p>You have to work to keep in touch and I do. Holiday cards at least every year, with notes. I treasure my long-term relationships and try not to allow people to “escape” from my life. </p>
<p>Spouse and I have already attended the wedding of the D of college friends. I guess sharing pics of grandkids is next???</p>
<p>I graduated in '77…still keep in touch with about 10 of my closest friends via e-mail, phone calls and christmas cards…College friendships are different from high school in that you’ve lived together and chose a certain college out of common interests… In high school you went where your parents lived…very different…My husband teases me when I compare people I"ve met in the “real world” to my college friends… He reminds me that its hard to replicate those friendships, and he’s right.</p>