Latoya Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Monica's song, titled Right Here Waiting, is one of the many examples of lyrics speaking about long-distance relationships. Whether you are 'Oceans apart day after day ...' or in another parish, unless special effort is made on both sides, it is often hard to maintain a serious relationship. Though some are of the opinion that long-distance unions are not real relationships, there are many who realise their importance and try to make them work.

Many successful long distance relationships credit a strong emotional connection as one of the key factors in making them work. "I had only been in a relationship for a few months before he and his family migrated. At first, I thought that was the end of it all, but our love and faith in each other was enough to keep it going. We both want to make this work and, so far, it has been working, despite negative comments by some of our friends."

- Danielle, 22

Are you serving a death sentence?

As challenging as they are, not every long-distance relationship is 'doomed to fail', whether in the long run or a few weeks after starting. One of the most important factors in such relationships is trusting your partner. For some, it is easy to get jealous, especially if they feel as if they are being excluded. However, it is important to trust each other and have faith in the relationship. Also, by establishing an agreement on what the relationship should be, each person will know what to expect.

"One of the main things I like is that it forces you to move slowly. Things get a little heated when you are together, because you try to make up for lost contact time. But for the most part, you spend more time talking and getting to know your partner than you would, if you were constantly in your partner's presence."

- Janice, 20

"I've never been in a long-distance relationship, but I figure that it gives more time to focus on other goals. Also, I tend to get tired of being in someone's company for too long. Maybe a long-distance relationship would be ideal for me!"

- Shaun, 17

Bridging the gap

There may be times when phone calls and text messages or emails aren't enough. But there are other ways to keep such relationships alive.

"I often find myself wondering how I could be the man (in her life) since I was so far away. Lucky for me, my girl at the time understood. She constantly kept me updated and that helped me to feel less distant from her. She knew I loved details, as it made me feel like I was a part of her daily routine without invading too much. I keep optimistic and made it clear that we can work anything out because I'm willing to play my part."

- Bradley, 18

"It's the thought that matters. I made that count. I always had something nice on my mind to tell her. I always found ways to bring spontaneity into the relationship; she never had to ask me for anything. Once I sacrificed my family and friends to be with her on Christmas and New Year's. It turned out to be the best holiday I ever had!"

- Omari, 21

Luckily, technology has advanced so much that it's much easier to keep the lines of communication open.

Webcams have proven to be efficient in helping long-distance partners to achieve a sense of closeness, when phone calls aren't enough.

For persons overseas, Skype (software that allows persons to make calls over the Internet) has lessened the financial strain and made communicating more effective. Otherwise, local cellphone service providers have implemented packages, such as VIP and MiCircle, that guarantee more talk time for a low cost.

So don't despair! If ever you find yourself wondering how you will survive the distance, just remember that though you may not be able to see each other as much as you would like to, or be able to enjoy normal activities together on a day-to-day basis, it is important to make the best use of the times you are able to share together. Those are the memories that often encourage you at times when you feel like giving up.

For the most interesting teen issues and styles, get your copy of Youthlink magazine on news-stands on Tuesday.