I don’t have faith in many things; I’m not sure if Neil Armstrong landed on the moon or if the police really do protect and serve.

But there is one thing that I hold true every day — long distance relationships can and do work.

Crissinda Ponder

I can’t count on my fingers and toes how many times I’ve heard, “They don’t work” and “How do you know he or she isn’t cheating on you?”

No one wants to be optimistic anymore.

Yes, I know that you “test the waters” in college, and some students may even find their spouses.

But, for me, the waters are too shallow. No one seems to arouse my intellect here.

I would like to know why some students — and young adults in general — are not willing to pursue a long-distance relationship, other than perhaps due to the normal insecurities.

I understand the challenge, but it’s worth the work. Now, one may be wondering, how does she know this?

Well, I am and have been in a long-distance relationship for a while — seven years, to be exact.

I was only 13 years old when I met my “hubby,” as I like to call him, and he was only 14. If someone would have asked me back in 2003 if I thought the relationship would make it this far, I would have told them no.

He stayed near me for a while, but when he moved to another city, we would only get together two or three times a month.

I started out with the nonchalant mind-set and was the biggest flirt. I would tell him in a quick second, “Yeah, I might talk to other dudes.”

But now, I’m the biggest sucker for love. Being in a relationship like mine can do that to you.

Clearly, my relationship is rare for someone my age, but I would not trade it for all the money in the world.

It’s not enough just to have a boyfriend or girlfriend these days — you have to have companionship with your significant other.

If I had to give a reason for the success of my long-distance relationship thus far, it would be the fact that we are not in each other’s face all the time.

At this age, I still need my space. We’ll get to the good stuff like waking up to each other later.