theimagemagazine Feb. 19, 2020
Lifestyles
15
Frazier, Kingston remain friends despite distance SOPHIA WASSON • Staff Reporter • After developing a strong friendship for the past four years, junior Addison Kingston and senior Samantha Frazier work to keep their friendship alive across the country. Frazier moved for her senior year to Utah. This distance has not truly changed the extent of their friendship. They have many ways to stay in touch, and the two girls still talk daily. However, the distance has made some aspects of friendship a little harder. “Samantha and I saw each other a lot because we went to church together and school together, and I had to get used to not seeing her there,” Kingston said. “I would always go to her basketball games, and when basketball season rolled around and she wasn’t there it was hard. I had to get used to not seeing her at our normal [activities]. It’s really hard not being able to talk to her in person anymore.” It wasn’t easy for Kingston when she was told the news that Frazier was moving. “I was really sad because she was one of my best friends, especially at my church, everyone just loved her and she just made everyone super happy, so it was really sad to hear that she wouldn’t be there,” Kingston said. Although this friendship hasn’t been separated until this move, Frazier has experience with moving throughout her life. “The hardest thing about moving is the anxiety that comes from making new friends and enjoying your new
school. When I found out, I of course was very sad and cried but we moved around pretty constantly, so I wasn’t too surprised. I wanted to take a couple days to wrap my head around it first before I told any of my friends,” Fraizer said. Fraizer pulled Kingston aside at church and told her, so she wouldn’t have to hear it from the other people she told. Kingston and Fraizer both say that they stay in touch through texting and checking up on each other regularly. They talk a lot about sports and what is going on in school. Kingston also goes out and visits Utah sometimes and gets to see her best friend. The girls are going to see each other over spring break, but they usually see each other about once a year. Kingston plans to go out to college in Utah and hopes to see Frazier there. “I think it is important to stay in touch with people that you appreciate and mean a lot to you, especially with moving because that can be hard getting new connections. The good ones are people who you can be friends with for life and you will always have their support. It is so good and meaningful to have,” Kingston said. Both of the girls have a similar outlook on the type of love that friendship creates. They explain how having a best friend is so important. “Friendship love is very important because it allows you to feel like there is always someone there for you who has your back and supports you,” Frazier. Despite the 1,300 miles, Frazier and Kingston decided their friendship was important enough to keep alive and thriving.
• illustration by DELANEY STULCE
