Credit to Drew Johnson

Conley & Krekeler pose for a photo. The couple recently committed to the same college.

Graduation causes many breakups. Friends break up with one another, forgetting all of the good times they’ve had. Parents break up with children, watching them leave for greater things in the world. Siblings break up with siblings, watching their counterparts continue life without them. Boyfriends break up with girlfriends.

However, for seniors Collin Conley and Camille Krekeler, this couldn’t be any different. After being in a relationship for over two years of high school, the couple is attending North Central College in Naperville, IL.

“We had been planning our colleges kind of together,” Krekeler said. “We were both visiting places and telling each other about it because we either wanted to go to the same place or somewhere near each other.”

When the couple reached senior year and inevitably started looking for colleges, they faced an issue most relationships face at that stage. The struggle between prioritizing your relationship or your future. However, for them, the decision came hand in hand and kept both a priority. Krekeler was the first to visit their now college campus.

“So I visited up there in September, 2024,” Krekeler said. “I went up there for a prospect camp for lacrosse. And I liked the coaches a lot. The place was really cool. And it’s up near Chicago, which is a fun place.”

Then, following her commitment, Conley went for a visit and ended up enjoying it as well.

“She went there for a visit, and she told the coach that she really liked it,” Conley said. “Then the coach posted a commitment thing for her. She never committed. So she kind of committed first, against her will. But she did really like it, so she wanted to go there first. Then I went there for a visit, and I really liked it. So we both decided, that’d be a good place for us to be.”

For many couples, college together can seem daunting as both parties are experiencing a time of extreme transition. New friends, new teachers, new expectations, new experiences and, in their case, a whole new city. Both Krekeler and Conley stress the importance of communication and openness in a relationship to avoid long-lasting issues.

“We never lie,” Conley said. “We just try to communicate a lot and not argue about dumb stuff when we can work it out.”

Along with open communication, making time for one another and keeping that a priority is another vital part of a long-lasting relationship.

“Prioritize hanging out, and spending as much time together as possible,” Krekeler said. “Like I have school and then lacrosse and he has school and then wrestling practices. But we just, hang out any time possible, even if it’s only for an hour or shorter.”

Whether you are in a relationship or are secretly (or not so secretly) wishing for one this applies to not just romantic relationships but platonic ones as well. Time and communication is vital if you want a relationship to last through college or any other post-high school plans. Some relationships are worth taking past high school so don’t throw them away just because of long distance or cold feet.

“I would say don’t pass up on something that you’re going to regret passing up on later,” Conley said. “If you have your dream scholarship, or you’re going somewhere full-ride, then I would say, don’t give that up. If your relationship is strong enough to last long, it should be strong enough to last long distance, especially if you’re setting yourself up, for your future together. But if you can, and your relationship is really healthy. I would say you should go to college together if you can financially.”