I have been in a relationship for four years and now coming to college it is difficult because we have some distance between us. Fights are especially hard. What are the best ways to keep a long distance relationship going? 
-Distance Sucks

Dear Distance Sucks,
Relationships are already hard enough, but throwing distance into the mix makes it even more difficult to create a feeling of closeness between a couple.
Multiple questions this week addressed long distance relationships, so no one should feel alone on this issue.
According to “Relationships 101: Having Healthy Relationships in Your First Year of College” by Dr. Gary Lewandowski and Miranda Brobrowski from Monmouth University, 75 percent of college students experience a long-distance relationship during their college career.
To make long distance relationships last it takes a high level of trust and commitment.
On top of that, each partner must be willing to put in the extra time and effort in order to maintain closeness with their significant other.
Technology makes distance a bit easier for our generation. With Skype and FaceTime, a couple can have an actual face-to-face conversation with each other.
Making a set time for a “Skype date” or “FaceTime date” gives each person something to look forward to. To mix it up a little, pick out a weekly TV show and watch it together through your virtual conversation.
This creates a time that is dedicated solely to the couple.
Now if you are at your breaking point with not being able to physically have your partner next to you, technology is trying to give couples something extra during long periods apart.
A company called Little Riot has a product named “Pillow Talk” that makes an effort to connect couples in long distance relationships.
Through the use of a wristband, the wearer’s heartbeat is sent to an app via bluetooth. Couples are connected within the app and through headphones or a special pillow speaker, they can hear their significant other’s heartbeat in real time as they fall asleep.
It’s almost as if your partner is right there, cuddled up next to you.
If you’re having a rough week in your long distance relationship, don’t get yourself down. Just because there is distance between a couple doesn’t mean their relationship has a lesser chance to last. In the article “Measuring Long-Distance Romantic Relationships: A Validity Study,” M. Carole Pistol and Amber Roberts state, “Research suggests that long distance relationships are as satisfying and stable as geographically close relationships.”
So keep pushing forward, make the extra effort daily and cherish the moments you do get to spend together.
My favorite saying for couples in long distance relationships is “Distance means so little, when someone means so much.”
Wishing the best,
Randa

A note from Miranda Hamm, staff writer and “Help me ‘Randa” columnist:
Send your email to [email protected] with your relationship question or questions. There is no need to include your name, just your situation, and I will do my best to find the advice you are searching for.