Almost a year ago today, I took the plunge and moved across the country from New York State to go to college at Arizona State University. Looking back on it, even if it was not the best experience, I did learn a lot more than I thought and I figured I would share it for those of you that need it! So here are the five things that I’ve learned from moving across the country.
- Things don’t always go the way you expect them to.
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When I first moved to Arizona, I expected everything to fall into place. My skin would clear, I’d find some best friends and I’d magically become the person I’d always wanted to be. But things didn’t go my way when I first got here, and that led me to be very upset at the beginning. Unexpected things happen all the time and it can be incredibly frustrating. But nothing will ever solve all of your problems. A lot of the time, it’s easy to think that a big change can suddenly solve all of the problems we have. But in reality, we’re always going to have something to be upset about.
That leads me to point #2….
- You are responsible for your own happiness.
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Your happiness is something that only you can be 100% responsible for. And trust me, it makes a HUGE difference. When it comes down to it, we’re always going to have something to be upset about and it’s our decision to decide whether that something is worth the pain it’s causing us. This took me a very long time to realize and can be very hard to put into practice, but once I did, I felt much happier being here. Use the time that you have to do things that make you feel good, not dwell on the bad.
However, it is very important to….
- Give yourself time to adjust, but also seek help if you need to
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Give yourself some time to adjust to such a big change. It doesn’t happen right away, but things will start to piece together after a while. No change is easy, so give yourself time to settle in and feel what you feel.
But, if this lasts a few months, there is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking help. Talk to someone you trust, or to a professional about what you feel. This may seem obvious, but it really does work. At the bottom of this article, I’ve listed some resources if you need them.
- Homesickness is DEFINITELY a thing.
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It actually comes up a lot more than you think it will. It didn’t really hit me at first, but once it did, I felt it A LOT. It can be difficult to combat, especially if you’ve lived somewhere for a long time, but there are things you can do to ease it a bit.
Meeting people and exploring the area definitely helped me with this one because it helped introduce me to the environment. Familiarity is half of the battle, and I think that knowing people and knowing the area around you can help you feel like you’re not just stuck in limbo. It’s the process of making a new place feel like home, and that can really help.
And finally, point #5….
- Things do get better with time
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As cheesy as it is to say, it is very very true. Nothing happens overnight, and after a very long, emotionally challenging year, I have definitely learned to adjust to my life in Arizona. I really do enjoy my life here! Although it took time and a lot of work, I’m happy with where I am at the moment and I know that you can be too! You can get through any challenge life throws at you as long as you take the time that you need and work hard to get to where you want to be. I hope this helps!
Resources:
Vent to an anonymous stranger: https://www.7cups.com/anonymous-chat/ Or find a therapist near you: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/arizona?gclid=CjwKCAjw0N3n…