The transition between high school and college can be, for
some people, one of the most jarring and scary transitions they will
ever go through. For others, it barely makes an impact.
However, there is one thing most college students can agree on, and that’s
that it’s a common experience to miss the home you moved away
from. Whether that means feeling nostalgic for the streets in your
hometown, longing for face to face contact with your best friends
or missing your parents, homesickness comes in many different
forms and many different degrees.
Regardless of how you experience homesickness, the first step
to overcoming it effectively is to recognize that it’s normal and
natural to miss your home. It doesn’t matter what relationship you
have to your hometown or your family, whether it be positive or
negative.
However, junior Mikayla Herrera said that she advises
against taking frequent trips back to your hometown, because
doing so can make it more difficult to assimilate to college life.
“The first year can be really difficult to overcome because
there’s just so many new things going on and you may have a hard
time finding some friends you really connect with. Hang in there!
It’ll get better,” Herrera said.
She also said that even though it might take time to find
the friends you truly connect with, you should never settle for
anything less than people who make you feel safe and comfortable
with who you are.
“Try new things and find what sticks for you and maybe join
a group full of people who have the similar passions and goals as
yourself. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t find your group right
away, it typically takes some time and don’t settle either,” Hererra
said.
Sophomore and student ambassador Ana Carbojal, who’s an
out of state student, said that that making her dorm room into a
place that felt like home was very important to her when it came to
overcoming homesickness.
“I tried my best to make my room a home and keep a steady
schedule to fall back on, controlling the things I could, like
studying and staying on top of homework,” Carbojal said.
She also noted that professional therapy was a valuable
resource for her.
“I [regularly went] to therapy to work through all the new
emotions and feelings with moving away,” Carbojal said.
For students really struggling with moving away from home,
student counseling resources are available in the Student
Wellness Center. The Student Wellness Center employs a variety
of therapists who are fairly easy to make appointments with,
and students’ appointments are typically covered under most
insurance plans. A session charges a 5-dollar copay. The Wellness
Center is located across from the Health Sciences building and is
open from 8am to 8pm Monday-Saturday and Sunday from 12-4.
Students can make an appointment by calling 970-644-3740.
