Week one: You’re all settled into your dorm, getting a feel for the campus, and loving your classes.
Week two: “Okay, I can’t even look at another salad from the dining hall. Is that even real food?”
Week three:Â You start to miss your dog, best friends and when your mom would make your favorite dinner.
It’s that time of year when the weather starts to change and not only do you feel a little sick from the cold but you’re also starting to feel a little homesick.
           Some days you’ll feel like you haven’t talked to your family in years because you’ve been buried under a pile of all the textbooks, exams, classes and professors. The question of “was going far for college the right thing for me?” starts to pop in your mind. Then you begin to realize the gap between high school and college is not just having to adjust your workload, but is having to adjust and change the life you’ve been living for the past several years to a whole new one.
Here are some wise words to pick you up when you feel like you just can’t do the distance anymore.
1. Keep in touch. With today’s technology you can talk to a person and reach them anytime or anywhere. Send your best friends and family a good morning text, it’ll make them and you feel better. Not to mention, take advantage of FaceTime!
“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”-Winnie The Pooh
2. This is just a part of life. Growing up, growing old and growing apart is just something that happens throughout life. Sadly, it moves fast, especially when you get to college. The years fly by faster than you can say, “where did the time go?” But don’t worry, because they just keep getting better and better.
“I just want to go on more adventures. Be around good energy. Connect with people. Learn new things. Grow. –Anonymous
3. Keep yourself busy. – Find something you’re passionate about and see what kind of clubs or organizations your university offers. I joined Greek life my freshman year of college, and now I can truly say, there is no place I’d rather be. URI is not just my school of choice, but it’s now a home. Whether it’s Greek life, Spanish club, the sailing team, or playing an intramural sport, there is always someway to get involved and enjoy yourself to keep your mind off of the friends and family you’re missing at home.
“What keeps me going is that quest for just being able to be present and be myself. Not for people, but for me.” –Janet Mock
Friends will come and go, the seasons will change, but what doesn’t stop growing is you. It’s okay to get a little homesick, but don’t give up. Life is to short to stay in one place so hang on and don’t jump off your ride of life too early.