The campus is a place where the strongest of friendships are forged. The fun and the hardships that you and your friends experience in school help you grow deeper in your relationship with one another, and they even make life in school both bearable and enjoyable.

But all good things come to an end. After everything you’ve been through together, you’re a few weeks away from graduation. Whether you like it or not, you will have to say goodbye to your barkada for now and carve your own paths, apart from one another.

As you part ways, the hard reality is that you and your friends will have to grow separately and have different priorities. Things are definitely going to change and it will be harder to stay in touch. How can we cope as we prepare to move on to the next season, with the possibility that we might not see our friends as often? Here are some pointers that I hope will help you.

Seize the remaining days.

People have different ways of coping with separation anxiety, more commonly known as sepanx. Some people gradually withdraw from their friends by being the first to detach. They think that by distancing themselves early on, the inevitable goodbye will not hurt as much.

Yes, making more memories with your friends can make parting from them harder, but making the most of your time with them is actually wiser and more rewarding in the end. Whenever you miss the good ol’ days, you’ll have fond memories to remember. As you look back, you’ll have no regrets knowing that you cherished and valued every single moment with them.

Seasons change, and that’s okay.

Change is inevitable, and friendship with your buddies are not exempt from this. As you pursue your dreams in different places, your time with them will eventually become less frequent. When that happens, remember that it’s normal and it’s okay.

Be secure in your friendship. You would eventually meet new people and make new friends, but your friendship with them will surely have a special place in your hearts. The last thing you want to do is to place an unfair burden on one another to still meet up as much as you used to. Guilt-tripping one another for not being as available as before is not going to help your friendship; it would actually strain it even more.

The end of a season doesn’t mean the end of your friendship.

Some endings in life are necessary. But the end of this season need not be the end of your friendship. Time and distance would surely be a challenge, but as long as you’re committed to keep the friendship, you can always catch up, stay connected, and keep building memories together. That’s actually easier to do through all the technology available to us right now.

Friendships can last especially if they have the right foundation. But what is the best foundation for a friendship?

Friendships centered on God can withstand transition.

I believe that friendships don’t happen by chance; it is God who brings people together to form deep friendships. When God is at the center of any relationship, it could stand the test of time and distance.

What makes friendships last is not just the things you enjoy doing together or the challenges you conquered together. The kind of love among friends that overlooks offenses, encourages one another, and strengthens one another makes friendships last. And God is the only source of that love.

Most friends who stayed in my life are the people who stayed with me in my journey with God. Along the way, God added new friends as I continue to walk with Him.

As you enter a new season in your life, be hopeful that your current friendships are meant to last, but be open to the new people that God will bring into your life.

Transitions and separations can be scary, but remember that in the midst of change, God will always be there to lead us and help us build life-giving relationships.