Death is a natural part of life, but dealing with the death of a loved one in college can shake you at core and leave you feeling completely isolated.
I am the youngest person of my generation on both sides of my family. On top of that, both of my parents are the youngest of their siblings. That being said, I had to deal with the passing of loved ones at a much younger age than the majority of my peers. While losing a loved one is hard regardless of the circumstances, it can be especially difficult when you are away from home.
Here are 6 tips to help you cope with the passing of a loved one while being away from home.
1. Go to your counseling center.
I know that it always seems as if people are always pushing the counseling center on students, but these individuals know what they are doing. Even if you think you are fine and won’t be deeply affected, sometimes just talking to someone can help loosen the knot in your stomach.
2. Talk to your professors.
The death of a loved one can alter your performance in classes. Many universities have adopted bereavement policies for students, see if your university has one and take advantage of it. IUP students, here is the link for ours.
3. Surround yourself with supportive friends.
The keyword here is supportive. Lean on those friends that will take care of you and check on you even if you don’t want them to. Friends will keep you from isolating yourself and give you things you didn’t even know you needed.
4. Talk to your loved ones.
This may seem like a given, but shutting out your family members during this time will do more harm than good. These are the people who love you and sharing memories can be really helpful.
5. Don’t be afraid to tell people what you need.
If you know that you just need to sit with one friend, don’t be afraid to ask. If you need to get something to eat but don’t want to go alone, speak up. Your needs may seem insignificant to you, but what you are feeling is justified and there are people who will drop everything to be with you.
6. Talk about your loved one who passed.
Death is confusing, but memories can help you see through all of the confusion to the person you are missing. Share memories or ask family members to share their memories. You may learn something interesting.
While death is something we all experience, we all grieve differently. Be mindful that what may work for you, may not work for a friend. Be honest about what you’re feeling and what you need. Always remember that there are people around you who love you and will always be there.
In honor of all the loved ones that won’t get to see us graduate. We hope we’re making you proud.