College is supposed to be all fun and games: The end of high school, the beginning of a new lifestyle and of course, the beginning of a long-distance relationship with parents.

But for some students, parents aren’t the only loved ones separated by a multitude of miles.

Try having a relationship that literally is divided by night and day.

Nikhil & Saimah

Nikhil Kumar and Saimah Sheikh share a 10-and-one-half-hour time difference and are literally oceans apart.

Kumar, a graduate student in industrial engineering, started his master’s program last August.

In addition to leaving behind his family and friends, he left behind a part of his heart. Kumar has his girlfriend, Sheikh, waiting for him in India.

“Sometimes what keeps me going is the fact that she is waiting for me,” Kumar said.

Kumar and Sheikh had been dating for six months while Kumar was in India, but both of them knew N.C. State was in Kumar’s future.

Since Kumar was living in Mumbai, which is about 180 kilometers east of Pune, the city where Sheikh lives, it has always been “long distance” for them. “Even when I was in India, I wouldn’t see her that often, either,” Kumar said.

Sheikh, who is studying at the School of Fashion Technology in Pune, said being in college keeps her on her toes and busy. Sometimes Sheikh is so busy that being on a different continent as her boyfriend doesn’t bother her.

“In a way it’s good that Nikhil isn’t here,” Sheikh said. “I probably wouldn’t have been able to give him the attention and time.”

Sheikh said she does miss her boyfriend when something really important happens in her life and Kumar isn’t by her side — or anywhere close by.

“Sometimes when something significant happens, I wish Nikhil was here,” Sheikh said. “But it’s not permanent so that keeps me going.”

Kumar and Sheikh both agreed faith and truth are the key elements in keeping their relationship healthy and successful across the miles.

For Sheikh, trust is the most important thing in her relationship with Kumar.

“Nikhil is there and he can do something and not tell me about it,” Sheikh said. “I can do something in India and not tell him about it, but I trust him not to do anything and that’s the only way our relationship can work.”

Although this is Kumar’s first long-distance relationship, he said he doesn’t have much of an issue being away.

“I am secure about our relationship and I have faith,” Kumar said. “The basis of any relationship is faith.”

Kumar and Sheikh speak at least once a week via the Internet, and try to speak on the phone once every three days.

Kumar is planning to visit India in December 2007 and Sheikh said she eagerly awaits his return. For Valentine’s Day, Kumar has arranged for special surprises for Sheikh, although he’s thousands of miles away.

Octavio & Victoria

Octavio Rodriguez and Victoria Lahl have been dating for almost two and a half years. Rodriguez and Lahl met while Lahl was an exchange student at Rodriguez’s high school, North Henderson High.

Rodriguez and Lahl met toward the end of the year, right before Lahl left for her home in Germany.

“There are lots of difficult things about being in a long-distance relationship,” Rodriguez said. “For me what stands out the most is not being able to see her for long periods of time.”

Rodriguez said he and Lahl try to meet over Christmas and summer breaks.

For Lahl, the hardest part is being so far away, especially right after an argument.

“Once we make up, I want to be able to give Octavio a hug and just be with him,” Lahl said. “With the distance between us, I can’t do that.”

Rodriguez and Lahl also base their relationship on trust and trying to see each other as often as they possibly can. Rodriguez just returned from spending Christmas and New Year’s in Germany with Lahl.

For Rodriguez and Lahl, with the exception of the first few months in their relationship, long distance is all they’ve ever known.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” Rodriguez said. “But it’s worth it.”

For Lahl, another difficult part about being in a long-distance relationship is having to say goodbye at the end of their visits.

“When I first see Octavio, I’m so happy,” Lahl said. “But we’re always saying goodbye, which is very hard to do.”

Lahl said even though they are far apart, there’s something special about her relationship with Rodriguez that keeps it going.

“We have a very beautiful relationship,” Lahl said. “By destiny, it’s a lot harder than others, but after all, nothing is ever easy.”

Adam & Mariela

Adam Kirkley and Mariela Cherry have been together since their summer abroad in Mexico.

Kirkley, a senior in Spanish education, met Cherry at the University where they were enrolled in a program to improve their Spanish. Kirkley and Cherry both agree their relationship proves that love at first sight really does exist.

Cherry is a sophomore at the City University of New York-Lehman and for her the hardest part about being in a long-distance relationship is being apart.

“It stinks not being a part of each other’s daily routines, and not being together when we both need support,” Cherry said.

Kirkley and Cherry continuously plan their vacations and breaks from university around each other.

“With a long-distance relationship, you’re always planning ahead,” Kirkley said. “We have our vacations planned out all the way through December.”

For Cherry, distance isn’t always something negative. She manages to see the glass as “half full,” despite the misconceptions people have of long-distance relationships.

“Being apart from Adam makes me appreciate him and our relationship so much more,” Cherry said. “The fact that we love each other so much even with the distance that separates us, just makes us both know that we can do it, and that makes it a bit easier to bear.”

Kirkley and Cherry both have a strong support group through their friends and family when they are apart.

“My friends know that Mariela makes me happy,” Kirkley said. “If I am happy, that’s all they want from me.”

Cherry said although she doesn’t go out socially, when she sees other couples on the train and on her way to university, she does feel nostalgic and wishes that she were with Kirkley.

“But sometimes when I see those other couples it makes me smile because I know that when Adam and I are together, someone must be looking at us like that, missing their significant other,” she said.

Cherry said she has learned a lot from being in a long-distance relationship, and advises couples in the same boat to bear the distance, which after all is only temporary.

“If you’re in a long-distance relationship, and you know it’s going to work out in the end, stick with it,” she said. “As Adam always tells me, keep the big picture in mind, and remember love conquers all.”