It’s fall and that means students from all over are trickling back to the campus life. For some, that might mean finally moving out of the town they grew up in; maybe moving a town or two, or migrating half way across the country. But then there are those of us who migrate half way across the whole planet to get to our campuses.
No matter how far we travel, whether it is an hour away from home by road or a 30-hour long flight from the same, there are certain cardinal facts about this big move that binds all of us together, i.e. how we cope with this new situation. The first step to dealing with this monumental change is to build a place of your own.
Set up your place – Now when I say “build”, I don’t mean physically get down to constructing a whole house, but rather, set up the place you are going to call home for the next semester, year or the length of your program, to your own liking. We have all seen the posts doing rounds on the internet which show how some undergrads from colleges across countries have managed to turn their rooms into their own little but luxurious dens. However, if you are like me and find conceptualizing such massive projects a bit daunting, especially in your first few days, then it always helps to start with the little things. Get some of your quirky personal belongings from home, and prop it up in your new room. While it can be anything of your liking, a personal favorite that helps with the moving away blues, is a collection of pictures of friends and family. This comes in handy, especially if you enjoy crafts or creating things with your hands, then you can create a collage out of the pictures of your close ones to keep the familiar faces around you and remind you of happy memories. If you have pets, don’t forget to add their pictures as well.
Keeping in touch – It is always the first couple of days or weeks which are the most difficult. If you have just moved and you don’t really know the people around you, or aren’t one of those lucky few who get to move to the same schools as their friends, then you are bound to feel a little homesick from time to time. Hence, once you are unpacked (at least partially) and have a place to lay your head for the night, fix a particular time when you can communicate with your folks back home. With the myriad of digital platforms available today, everyone you miss is only ever a call away. However, don’t spend all your time calling back home; get out there and make some new friends.
Get out there – This is one of the most helpful, yet often most difficult steps to accomplish. For some, it is very easy to walk up to a roomful of strangers and then leave with a bunch of friends, but for others, even the thought of such a feat can leave them catatonic. But when you move away from home, your friends become your new family and finding people who are on the same boat as you, helps to cope with the stress of the new life. But how do you make friends? Do you simply barge into large gatherings of people and force your way into their conversations? I won’t deny that I have not tried it once or twice, (I might be underquoting the number), and at times it has yielded great results and at other times, awkward silences. However, a far more effective alternative has been signing up for new activities and clubs.
Getting involved – The best part about the beginning of a new term is that all the clubs and groups begin to sign in newcomers. If you have a hobby or are passionate about any kind of activity, whether that is blogging or rock-climbing, chances are you will find a club out there with like-minded people just waiting to welcome you in to their cohorts. So don’t be shy, sign up for anything you have an interest in, even if you have no experience in it. Hey, there’s no time like right now to explore something new.
Do not despair – Finally, remember that this is a new chapter in your life and it will take time to build it anew. So give it time, and do not despair if you don’t find your tribe in the first week of orientation. Start building a daily routine to fill your time by going for walks, joining the local gym, or even striking up a conversation with a fellow student in the dining hall. At times it might feel like the initial days of high school all over again, but you got over it and made some of your best memories, so remember: “this too shall pass”.