You have been living with your family your whole life up until graduating high school. You’ve prepared your own meals at your home the way you like, seen your best friends that you’ve known for years, and basically memorized your towns map. Your home has always been your comfort zone where not much was unexpected in the environment around you. When I first arrived at the University of Maine, I was in awe at the size of the campus and absolutely floored by the large student population. For me, my graduating class of nearly 300 students in high school did not compare to my fellow students in my grade at the University of Maine.
Looking back at my first year in college, I wouldn’t change a thing. Despite last year being one of the most difficult years of my life, it allowed me to grow and flourish into a better overall person, especially at school. College is a rollercoaster where one minute you will be on a high, overseeing all of the great things going on in your life and then there will be lows where you are riding on the struggle bus going 120 mph not knowing what to do. To make it worse, you aren’t even close to your home, your hundreds of miles away in unfamiliar territory. But we’re all human and it is completely normal to feel this way. The thing that separates us is if we’re able to take a step back, assess the situation, and learn from it so we can grow and move on. So if you are stressing that you will never get out of the low you are in, trust me, you will truly be okay in the end.
Since I am so far away from home, I utilized Facetime a lot. Facetime will become your best friend if you are far from home. It’s TOTALLY normal to miss your home, your friends back home, your pets, and above all, your family. Although the face-to-face interaction between you and those back home cannot be felt, keeping in touch is the best thing you can do to keep you close to those back home.
One way to counteract homesickness is to get yourself involved in your new community at your college. The phrase “get involved” is something that is heard by most college students. I honestly felt like I was missing a lot during my first year in college due to not being involved in my school. In high school, I was a super shy girl who would only talk to her group of friends in high school and that would be it. I always knew that I was an outgoing person but it never showed until I came to college. Even during my first year, I was somewhat hesitant to show my true self but it was the best thing ever to let go of my fears and misconceptions and be myself. I’ve truly bloomed into the person that I am where everyone who knows me, accepts me for who I am. Being involved in clubs, honors societies, and a sorority has allowed me to flourish and feel like I have found my home away from home at The University of Maine. Everyone has their group of people that accept and embrace them for who they are. Get involved and find your people, I cannot stress that enough!
Finally, do what makes you happy. As you are experiencing your college years you will begin to realize that it feels as though there is not enough time in the day to do everything it is that you want to do. Amidst your busy schedule find time for yourself to do what makes you happy and relaxed. Whatever you passion is, follow it and do not give up. When I am stressed beyond belief or have any overbearing feelings, my go to place is the gym. Your overall health is the most significant thing that you must focus on in college and in life. Try to go out of your comfort zone and try new things; you never know if it’ll be one of your favorite memories. College is the time to try new things, find yourself, and pave your own path for your future. Make mistakes, learn from them, try new things, and stay true to yourself. Happiness comes from within so you have to make the best of the situation that you are in. When missing your home life and those back home, remember to always carry a piece of home with you to college. Create your home away from home at college and continue to make endless memories at college, it will go by quicker than you think.