I just got back yesterday from a 2 week pre-college program. It was a small program at a small college. My class was 4 people and the other class was 7 people. We all lived on the same floor and we spent a lot of time together. I connected the most with 2 people, let’s call them A and B. A lives 3.5 hours away from me, wants to go to a small college that doesn’t interest me at all, and will be going to college in 2016 as a junior (he has lots of college credits). I got his number, we’re friends on Facebook, and we follow eachother on Instagram. B lives 1.5 hours away from me so that’s not really a problem. However, throughout the program, when people asked for his contact information, he kept deflecting and/or saying he doesn’t use social media. He told me that he thinks it is pointless to try to stay in touch because he will never see any of us again. I know that he uses Facebook because he became Facebook friends with our RA. When another student and I added him on Facebook, he repeated that he won’t accept anyone’s friend requests. On the second to last day he told me that he might accept mine. On the last day he said he will accept mine. I feel like he was just saying that and he won’t actually accept it. How long should I wait for him to accept my request until I give up on him?
Should I even stay in touch with them? Like B said, I probably will never see them again.
If I do keep talking to them and we just become closer, won’t that make it even sadder when we eventually stop talking? What should I do?
People have a funny way of reappearing in your life or (sometimes their siblings). It’s normal for relationships to change over time. Keep up with them, if they and you want or just let them go. Don’t worry about it or think about it too much. Someday, you might end up at the same place and the same time and it will be fun. You can never have too many friends!
From my experience, I think you should keep in touch! Staying in touch might eventually peter off, but if these are people that you really care for (and they care for you) then they’ll have a way of staying in your life. I have a friend from a residential summer program that I was a part of a year ago who is coming to visit me this weekend - we’ve managed to stay friends even though there’s a little over 3 hours between us. Good luck!
My D2 still calls weekly via phone or Skype with a friend she made 5 years ago from a summer program. They just saw each other in person 2 weeks ago for the first time since then. She also had run into summer program acquaintances at accepted student college visits across the country from our home, and a couple kids from one program go to her college now.
Good friends are hard to find, IMHO. Take them where you find them, and stay in touch if you really like them.
B sounds like a jerk. If he’s not anxious to stay in touch with you, why are you so interested in trying maintain contact with him? You’ll meet tons of people in your life so I think this is one person you can afford to say goodbye to.