When the core of a romantic relationship is about being close and sharing your life with another person, the idea of entering a long-distance relationship doesn’t sound appealing. Love is complicated enough without having thousands of miles dividing a couple.

But, because of the technological wonders of the Internet, the “global village” is becoming more intimate every day, with long-distance dating a growing trend.

I’m one of the many whose romantic life fits in this category.

As I began my first year at San Diego State last fall, I didn’t hope to meet a significant other but fully intended to remain faithful to my distant honey. Most people I knew were convinced that my long-distance relationship was doomed for failure.

They were wrong.

And today, I’m pleasantly surprised to know that the number of people who are “dating despite distance” is growing. Different cities, states or even countries, can’t shake a solid relationship based upon mutual respect, trust, commitment and, of course, love.

But there are several indispensable criteria that are required to make a far-away romance work: Both people must have the same vision for the future and share the same expectations of one another. They must also set and discuss boundaries to follow while apart.

Communication and trust are vital – phone calls, e-mail and text messaging become the relationship’s foundation. Setting a time to talk every week will help keep a couple connected. For instance, a good friend of mine spends every Thursday night on the phone with her Chicago heartthrob, and that’s when I know not to bother or invite her to go out.

A successful long-distance couple also needs to take the time and effort to visit each other. Being physically together is a great thing to look forward to. Though periods of loneliness and feeling detached are frequent, you can’t spend life being sad and frustrated if you’re set on making the relationship last.

When you’re finally together, don’t dwell on the short period of time you may have together – it’s unavoidable that you’ll part again. When the goodbyes do come, and you give each other that last airport kiss goodbye, remember, your time apart won’t be forever – it’s merely a natural part of the relationship.

Couples can also remind each other how much they care, how much they miss each other and how much being alone can hurt. These are natural feelings that result from the separation and should be openly and honestly addressed in order to keep the relationship healthy.

There will always be worry and doubt, especially during the start of a relationship.

The most common worries are about your significant other meeting someone else and cheating. Or you’ll wonder why such a fantastic person who has others are vying for his or her attention would choose staying. At times, you may even wonder why you do it – why you let yourself suffer.

The bottom line is, you’ll question everything. You, your partner, your relationship and the nature of the romance, but it comes with the territory.

Eventually, as the relationship progresses, you just might be amazed at how much it’s grown.

All good things come with a price tag – a major sacrifice. And if a couple can stand distance and the test of time, then they’ve got a really good thing going. One day, they’ll both be able to look back and laugh at the time they spent apart.

-Melissa Dudum-Maya is a Latin American studies freshman.

-This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec. Send e-mail to letters@thedailyaztec.com. Anonymous letters will not be printed – include your full name, major and year in school.