Relationships Staying Together

Jennifer S. Blandford

o, you cannot have the car, you cannot borrow any money and you cannot usemy-fiT&T calling card. the way, when do you want to go home? Thisis just thetypicaldialoguepassing between many siblingswho choose toshare lives, friends, rideshome and even theircollegeyears when they opttoattend college together. "We'resuch good friends We don'twantto miss outon anything eitherofusdoes, sowe decided togo tothe same schooltoexperienceit together,"sophomore-Jesse Barrsaid, explaining why sheand herslightly-younger twin sister^ Jody, transferred from Philadelphia-College oftheBibletoattend LU together t"^>

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The two blondessharearelationshipwhich provesquite comforting when thepressuresofschool, lonelinessand homesicknesssetin; and,asiftwo Barrson campus aren'tenough, junior Jonathankeepsawatchfuleye overhisyounger sisters and occasionallyprovidesan off-campusescapeforthem.

"He lets us go over tohisplace, and we cook forhim ordo his laundry,"Jody said. "It'seasyforhim totakeadvantage of us, sometimes, butheusually doesnicethings-for us," Jesseadded.

Although thethreesaytheirrelationship is wonderful,Jessedoesadmitthatthereis one disadvantagetocoming tocollege together.

"Ithinkwe tend tofeel like we'reina more comfortableatmosphere, and thenwe don'tlook^ forotherfriendsoropportunities At least that's theway I am," shesaid y

Therearemany studentsallovercampus with thecomfortofknowing asiblingisjust down the hall orinthenext dorm.

Many siblingschoose tomove offcampusto cutcosts. ShaWna,22, and Brenda Justice, 21, decided tomove intoOld MillTownhomes because they "couldn'ttakelivingon-campus anymore." i i -

Though thetwo say theydon'talways getalong perfectly, they agreethatlivingoff-campusenablesthem toseemore ofeach other thanthey did when theylived inthedorms.

"Even though we onlylivedthreedoorsdown inthe same dorm,we rarelysaw each otherbecause ofourbusyschedules Now,jn ourapartment we sharearoom, sowe'reguaranteed tosee eachotherevery night,"Shawna explained._

"That'snormally good — unlesswe'rearguing— thenshe's thelast personI want toseeatthemoment There'sno escape But thosetimesarerare,"Brenda laughed

• Jodi, Jesse and Jonathan Barrshare more than a name Their friendship ~ made them stick together evenafter leaving homefor college.

• Tim and Sarah Gombis, married since last summer, enjoy being bestfriends

They emphasize a relationship withChrist which isthe onlything thatwillmake a marriage work.