Homesickness. It’s an awful, yet oh-so-familiar feeling. We all have been homesick at least a few times in our lives. Whether it’s three days spent at a sleep-away camp or nine months away at college, homesickness presents the same effects on all of us. It’s something that can really hold us back from having fun, living our lives, and reaching our goals. As for me, I’m approximately 2,000 miles away from home, and I’ve definitely experienced my fair share of the awful feeling of homesickness. Through my experience, I have discovered some helpful ways to kick that nasty feeling to the curb.
Get involved on campus! This is one of the easiest things you can do to beat the feeling of homesickness. Sign up for activities that truly interest you (you don’t want to become TOO overwhelmed later on!) That way, you’ll meet people that have similar interests as you! Getting involved in various clubs or sports will make you feel more connected to the campus community! Plus, keeping busy with campus activities will not only let you to meet tons of cool people, but it will also distract you from feeling homesick.
Utilize technology! Skype, FaceTime , or video chat your friends and family! While you may think that this might perpetuate homesickness further, it does quite the opposite. From my personal experience, video chatting with my friends and family eased the feeling of homesickness since I was able to get a taste of the comforts of home. If you do this regularly, like me, you’ll see that the feeling subsides; your home will seem to always be with you.
Reach out to your peers! Find a way to bond and connect with people in your dorm and in your classes. Introduce yourself to people whom you haven’t talked to before along with those that have different interests or hobbies from you. You’ll be able to surround yourself with a diverse community of interests where there will always be at least one person who would be willing to go to an activity or event with you. If you’re on the shy side, like me, view this way as a challenge to really put yourself out there and make new, awesome friends. College campuses are exciting places; there are fun events happening nearly every day, so use that as a bonding tool.
Feeling homesick can really hold back your potential to do great things. During the first week of school, I felt extremely homesick on some days, and that prevented me from connecting with people in my classes and dorms and truly enjoying myself at college. I felt downright miserable at times. However, I realized that I wasn’t alone. Chances are, everyone is going through the same thing. By getting involved on campus, keeping connections with home, and putting myself out there to get to know my peers, I realized that I was feeling less homesick day by day. Give yourself some time to get adjusted and to make new friends. Don’t let homesickness hold you back from doing your thing.