Homesickness is real and brutal. At first, I was heartbroken when my mom left. I was suddenly all alone, and I had to face all these new challenges by myself. I was struggling to cope with warmer weather as I moved to a new climate, trying to manage marching band and meet new people on top of everything. As I was so busy moving in and participating in band, I didn’t have much time to grieve and let my emotions out. Also, when talking with new people, you put on your best face while pushing down your real emotions. I needed to take time for myself to move on. Movies were my best way of coping with my new life; they reminded me of all the great memories and connections I have back home, as well as reminding me how great college would be. Here are my best recommendations to get through homesickness.
“Five Feet Apart” is known to be great for crying, but it is also a good movie if you are missing a boyfriend or significant other. Leaving someone to go to college even if you ended it with them is not easy, letting out that frustration and heartache are important in the healing process. Personally, I did not leave anyone behind, but I did watch this movie for a nice cry session.
I love this movie. The values of family, friendship, and overall life struggles come out in “A Dog’s Journey”. Unfortunately for me, I never had a dog growing up. While talking to friends, though, I hear them missing their pets constantly. There is nothing like coming home to someone who loves you unconditionally. College is completely different from home. The people waiting to talk to you barely know who you are, so the feeling of “coming home” is lost. Let this movie remind you of abundant love.
Friendship is one of the most precious things to have in life, so leaving behind your friends can be harder than we expect. “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” is all about staying connected and continuing to support your friends even when you’re all separated. Thanks to technology, staying in touch is 100 times easier. I am constantly trying to find a way to call my friends from back home. I want to hear about all their adventures and their struggles. The first night I was alone in my dorm I called my good friend for an hour. She helped me through a tough time and I really could not have done it without her. Never hesitate to reach out; heck, maybe you and your friends could even have a special pair of pants or special tradition to keep everyone together.
Family is indescribable in its complexity of love, support, and struggles. Family has its ups and downs, yet at the end of the day, we are all so lucky to have it. “Love the Coopers” is a heart-warming movie about how, despite any differences, families come together over the holidays or special occasions to spend time with each other. I remember dreading family visits as a kid; I never wanted to put up with my crazy extended family. I realize now how lucky I am to have people who love me and who know me so well. There is nothing like family. It goes back to unconditional love, knowing you have people to back you up no matter what is incredible.
Being an individual is entirely different from living with your parents; you have to learn to be alone, which can be hard when you’re used to people surrounding you. “How to be Single” gives us an important reminder that being on your own is a gift and we have to learn to be our own person. When I first came to ASU, I felt very alone, and I was meant to just figure it out–everything became very overwhelming. However, as the weeks have gone by, I have evolved into more of a college student. I understand now that there is a special balance in socializing, studying, and relaxing. Weirdly, I actually find myself craving time alone, as there are usually people always bustling around; a quiet place just to think to myself sounds like a dream.