Just Ask Jess is an advice column where our columnist, Jessica Rubin, comes up with an answer to any and all problems, questions, or concerns you might have with life at Binghamton.

Got a problem? Just ask Jess! Send your e-mails with Just Ask Jess in the subject to opinion@bupipedream.com.

Dear Jess,

I have a very close group of friends and I love them and all, but they take up a lot of time and can be so demanding. They can be very territorial and sometimes express resentment when I hang out with other people, especially my friends from Binghamton. This summer, an opportunity may come up for me to live in New York City and share an apartment with some school friends. But I know my friends from home will be extremely upset when they find out I’m “ditching” them, especially to live with people from Binghamton. What do I do?

-Over Extended

Dear Over Extended,

Your friends need to leave high school behind. It seems as though when people don’t love their college, or can’t get over peaking in high school, they become bound to their past friends. My advice for dealing with the immediate problem: take the opportunity and live in the city. Why pass up an amazing summer of continued independence? Do not appease your high school friends, because you will end up resenting them.

However, don’t forget about them either. Try to understand their argument, too. Not everyone is in love with his or her college like the people here at good ole’ Binghamton. I bet some of your friends go to school in Florida with great weather or NYU where there are thousands of things to do all of the time. How sad for them. Realize that they may miss you and, honestly, who wouldn’t?

The best thing to do is talk to them and let them know how important they are to you. Make an effort to explain to your hometown pals that you want them to visit by setting a definite date where they can stay with you and party it up in the city. Keep the lines of communication open. Instead of using words like “ditching,” bring all of your friends together, the old and the new. Isn’t that what college is all about, allowing yourself to make new friends? And hey, if worse comes to worst, you still have your Bing buddies around. You spend more time with them, anyway.

Jessica Rubin is a freshman English major