It can be really difficult to cope with the fact that your best friend is about to graduate when you’re not. Trust me, I know exactly how it feels. Soon, I’ll be saying goodbye to my own BFF who’s graduating without me.

I can’t imagine uni life without her. She’s been there for me through everything – every boring lecture, every crappy grade, every awkward moment – and now that she’s leaving, I feel just about ready to dissolve into a puddle of tears.

But, it’s time to shut down this pity party I’ve been throwing for myself and start moving on to acceptance. Here are some tips that have helped me cope with the fact that my partner in crime is about to graduate. If you’re in a similar situation, maybe they can help you too.

Try Not To Panic

Change is scary. The thought that your best friend is about graduate and leave you behind is a major bummer. It certainly made me want to curl up on the bathroom floor with a shit-ton of chocolate and a giant bottle of wine.

The trick is not to freak-out, though. Allow yourself to feel sad, shed a few tears, but don’t wallow in self-pity. Just take a deep breath and put aside your panic. As someone who has recently been through all these feels, let me tell you: once you calm down and clear your head, you’ll be able to see your best friend’s graduation for what it truly is – a happy occasion.

Celebrate Their Achievements

When we’re panicked, we tend to get wrapped up in our own heads. At least I know I do. But, I was able to pull myself out of this most recent panicky spiral by imagining what my best friend was going through.

Graduation is a scary time for everyone. Your bestie is about to embark on a new chapter within their lives and chances are they’re majorly freaking out and in need of your support. Help them through this tough time by reminding them that their graduation is something that should be celebrated, not feared.

Wipe away your tears and channel your excitement. Jump up and down, have a mini dance party, and let your BFF know that you’re incredibly proud of all their hard work. Not only does their achievement deserve to be celebrated, but by focusing on the positives of this life-changing event, you’ll be able to remind yourself that your BFF is on their way to bigger and better things. And that’s what’s most important, right? 

Cherish The Time You Have

There’s still a few weeks before my bestie officially steps into the world of adults and I’m sure as hell going to take every opportunity I can to spend time with her.

I want to cherish every moment we have together. And, trust me, you will as well. Because, once the new semester rolls around and you find yourself facing evil professors and tight deadlines alone, at least you’ll be able to look back on these memories and remember the good times. 

Recognise That This Isn’t The End

It took me some time to realise that while my best friend graduating may be the end of an era, it’s certainly not the end of our friendship. Even as she leaves uni and moves on to bigger and better things, we’ll always be a part of each other’s lives.

And, I have to remember that we’re not parting ways forever. Soon I’ll finish my own degree and join her in the world of adults. But, until then, I’m going to cast aside my self-pity and focus on being happy for her. This is an amazing achievement and, at the end of the day, I couldn’t be prouder.

(Lead image: Gilmore Girls/Warner Bros)