Surviving Homesickness

Getting adjusted to life in a dormitory can be difficult.  You most likely have to share a bathroom with lots of other people and you probably have some sort of beef with a girl on your hall.  The food in the cafeteria sucks and your roommate snores.  Worst of all, you miss your family.  If you’re an upperclassman you may have already adjusted to the occasional pangs of homesickness.  But if you’re a freshman, it can be tough.  Hopefully, this article can help to alleviate some of the loneliness that comes from being away from what is familiar to you.

            Let’s say that you really miss your best friend from home, but you are finding it difficult to make time to talk.  It is totally understandable-finding time in your busy schedule to chat with a friend can add to the stress of college life.  The best way that I have found to keep in contact with friends from home is to make regular skype dates that work with both of your schedules.  Maybe you’re able to talk every two weeks after volleyball practice, or once a week to catch up on the juicy plot lines of Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice.  Just make sure that you work around both of your schedules and that you STICK TO IT! 
 It’s easy to lose touch with friends if you don’t see them every day.  Make sure that you go the extra mile to see how they are doing.  An occasional Facebook post or text can mean the world to someone, especially if you know they are having trouble adjusting to school or if they’re just having a rough time. 
            It can also be incredibly difficult to be away from your parents for long periods of time.  Many students feel lonely when they first leave home because they are not comfortable with such a drastic change to their daily routines.  If this is the case for you, fear not, because there are some simple ways to keep you from missing home and wanting to leave school.
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            It’s really important to become involved on campus in a variety of activities.  You will be surprised how much you don’t think about being homesick when you’re busy climbing a rock wall or attending a soccer game.  Being involved helps you to make new friends and keep your mind off of your homesickness. 

            If you’re already involved in activities on campus but are still feeling homesick, then ask your family to send you pictures from home.  Tell your mom to snap a picture of your sleeping dog or your little brother on his bike.  Many Hollins students have collages of family photos on the walls or ceiling near their beds. Family photos help when you need to remember all of the good things that are awaiting you on your next break. It’s also important to call your family and check in on them.  Believe it or not, they’re missing you just as much as you miss them. 

Your parents will want to know about all of the good times you’re having at school and the new friends you’re making so don’t skimp on the details!  It will make them happy to hear that you are enjoying college and it’ll make you feel better to know what their week has been like. 

Adjusting to college life can be tough, but if you get homesick, just remind yourself that it’s a new and exciting experience that takes some getting used to.  Once you find your niche you will start to feel more comfortable at school and know what you need to do when you are missing home.  And remember, it’s new for everyone, so encourage your friends to talk about what their hometown is like; as you form a new family at school, you can help each other remember your families at home.