Going away to college is an exciting time, but it does come with its own challenges. College students will usually never have had to live by themselves before, and as well as the domestic tasks they’ll need to learn, such as cooking and cleaning, they may also have to deal with feelings of homesickness. If you are worried this will be the case for you or you are already experiencing this problem, read on; here are some useful tips to help you get past this issue so you can focus on your education and future studen.
Understand You’re Not The Only One
Homesickness at college can make you feel isolated and depressed, and often you’ll wonder why you’re the only one experiencing these feelings. The reality is that you’re not; many other students will also be homesick, but, just like you, they try to hide the problem because they want to fit in or hope the issue will just go away.
Knowing that you’re not the only one is a good start, as it will help you feel less distressed. However, you must actually do something about the problem as well. Even just talking to someone like a dormmate, a friend, or a professor can be useful. When you let your feelings out, you can start to make sense of them.
Keep Busy
The busier you are, the less time you’ll have to worry about what’s happening at home and how much you miss it and the people there. College is full of amazing opportunities not just in terms of education but in extra-curricular activities as well. You can join clubs and organizations, for example, or perhaps you want to get a part-time job. As long as you can keep up with your studies, having things to do to keep you occupied can really help you in the adjustment period.
Remember not to take on too much, of course. You mustn’t sacrifice your education or your health (mental and physical) by not giving yourself enough time to study or rest.
Change Colleges
It’s crucial to know that if your homesickness doesn’t go away and you need to change colleges to be closer to home, you can do that. Some students find that being just a short distance from their family makes things much easier, and if that’s the case for you, it’s nothing to be ashamed of – everyone is different. Check out the SMU college transfers requirements if this sounds like it could help you.
Stay In Touch With Friends And Family
College does not have to be a complete break from everything you knew before – unless you want it to be, of course. There is nothing to say you can’t stay in touch with friends and family by enjoying regular phone or video calls, texting every day, sending a weekly roundup email, or going home to visit when you want to (and not when you’re meant to be in class).
Although some students find it’s easier to focus on their education if they don’t keep in touch with loved ones, others need to so they can stop feeling homesick. Therefore, it will depend on you which end of the scale you feel fits you best. Whatever you decide, as long as it helps you settle into college, it’s the right thing to do.