Something nearly every first year student can relate to is homesickness. No matter how strong or weak the relationship is with your family, we all experience it at some point in our own ways. For some people, it keeps them up at night when they’re trying to fall asleep. For others, it hits them while they’re doing their morning run and makes them feel emotionally drained. Sometimes it lasts only the first few weeks of college; sometimes it lasts until the holiday season. But it is not permanent and there are ways of coping with homesickness. Here are a few ways that I have used to deal with my own homesickness.
One of the best ways to deal with homesickness is to talk to someone about it. That could be a friend, a partner, a family member, or a counselor; it can be anyone who you trust and feel comfortable with. Talking about our thoughts and feelings helps us move past them, especially if the person you’re talking to has experienced it before or is experiencing it at the same time as you. Having someone to empathize with is very beneficial.
Keeping in contact with your family also helps you feel less homesick. The people from home (friends or family) are comforting, familiar people in your life. Continuing to talk to them can help make the transition to college a lot easier.
Getting involved in school and putting yourself out there will help a lot too. The more involved you are in school with your classes, clubs, friends, and so on can help you feel more comfortable with where you are. It will make you feel productive and happy. If you’re stagnant and not really involved with anything, that’s usually when most people become very sad and lonely, especially in college. Involvement and productivity will help a great deal with getting past homesickness and just feeling happier in general.
To all the first years out there making that big transition to university, remember that homesickness won’t last forever. Once you get into the swing of college, you’ll feel comfortable and much happier than you do now. College is going to be an exciting time for you! Stay positive and get involved. You’ll be okay.
Written by Shelby Rogers