Even before I attended CLTC 2, I was no stranger to long distance friendships. When I was 13 years old, I moved away from the only home I had ever known, Philadelphia, to just outside Washington DC. Letting go of my friends from my old school was extremely difficult, particularly my two best friends who I am still extremely close with today. I cried, I sobbed, let's just say I was a mess. I knew we would go from sleeping over at each other’s houses every night to visiting only on birthdays. 

So when I went on CLTC, and gained life-long best friends from places like Georgia, Michigan, Florida, New York, and so many more, I was fully prepared for all the FaceTimes and last minute flights. I never knew I could become close with a group of people in such a short amount of time. But throughout those 12 days of amazing programming and fun activities, I found my people from within the genuine, warm, and encouraging environment that CLTC is. The process of becoming close with these people was what made those long-distance friendships even more special, because we can look back at all those memories with love. 

The last day of CLTC is one you truly cannot explain unless you’ve experienced it. Saying goodbye to best friends who lived thousands of miles away was truly heartbreaking. Immediately once I got home I started thinking about when I could see all my news friends again. 

So it wasn’t until after CLTC that I realized that long distance friendships are the ones that are most special. Because we don’t see each other often, when we do it makes all those miles apart feel like nothing. Those months away from each other are worth it when you see your best friend's face, picking you up for the airport with a smile and a hug that makes up for all the distance in the world.

“So close yet so far.” A saying I have used way too much since CLTC 2. But when it actually comes to the time where you're close again, everything's worth it.