According to a Pennsylvania State University research center, only 35% of friendships established in high school remain one year later. From kindergarten to senior year, friendships are bound to change, and most students can say they are not best friends with the same individuals from elementary school. As the school year comes to an end, and 2026 seniors leave for college in just three months, these friendships may change. 

Ava Tucker and Audra Fiano became close friends this past summer. Although they have not been friends “forever,” they have established a close bond sharing multiple classes with each other. Tucker plans on attending the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa with a major in marine biology and a minor in zoology; while Fiano will major in nursing at Eastern Connecticut State University. 

Through their friendship, Tucker says, “I’ve learned that being around people who have similar aspirations and goals for the future really helps you have this sense of familiarity and understanding of what we’re all going through.” Fiano also reflected on this friendship saying she “learned that the best things come unexpectedly.”

Approximately 4,942 miles away from one another, Tucker and Fiano plan on staying in touch through Facetime and social media, “I think a once-a-month FaceTime call to debrief and talk about what’s going on and filling each other in will help ease the distance,” Tucker added. Fiano isn’t too worried about the distance considering how frequently they interact online, however not being able to see each other in person will be a big change. 

Marco Tonucci and Nayoung Kwon are also a great example of distance’s impact on friendships. Tonucci will study management at the University of Tampa in the fall, and Kwon plans to attend the University of Southern California, majoring in economics on the pre-law track. The two plan on visiting each other when possible, but also look to  rely on holiday breaks at home to see each other. With changing friendship dynamics creating different expectations, Kwon adds that “it definitely makes me sad but the ones that are meant to stay will stay.”

Moreover, Tonucci doesn’t think the distance will impact his friendship with Kwon, stating, “we’ll both understand that times are gonna get busy and stuff like that but I think we’re gonna stay friends regardless.” He has created a sense of confidence in his relationships with his friends over time, learning how “having a close circle with strong friendships who will be there for you whenever are the most important friendships.”

Seniors Avery Gelinas and Colleen Sturm have been friends since elementary school, and will soon be 1,257 miles away from each other. Gelinas will attend the University of South Florida to study health and natural sciences, while Sturm has decided to study statistics at the University of Connecticut this fall.

Sturm also displays confidence in her friendship with Gelinas, stating, “I don’t think this will put any major strains on our friendship though because we are really good at staying in touch over text and FaceTime even when we’re both in Waterford.” Maintaining a friendship over social media in addition to in-person communication has proven to be helpful moving into new stages of life. 

Making plans to visit each other during the school year can also contribute to strengthening the friendships, and ensuring they survive. Gelinas will be in Connecticut until January, where she will move to Florida to begin the spring semester, so the two have made plans to hang out in the meantime. 

Each friendship made gives individuals a lesson, and shows them what is valuable in relationships. From Sturm and Gelinas’ early friendship, Colleen reflects on what she has learned, saying “Finding the right people who will always uplift and support you is so important, and people who put you down are not worth your time.”

Hundreds of miles away, social media has been key to a lot of high school friendships lasting. However, it can also be the source of drama or issues within another. Navigating these obstacles is the true challenge. Nearing the end of senior year, no one can really know what will happen to these friendships in college, no matter how close the two can be. So the question is: will these friendships make it or break?