Starting college is exciting – new classes, new friends, new freedom – but sometimes college can also feel lonely. Between all the change and pressure to “love every minute,” it is totally normal to find yourself missing home. Whether it’s your family, your dog, or your favorite coffee shop, homesickness can sneak up on anyone.
If you’re feeling the ache for home while at KU, here are a few ways to make things feel a little lighter and a lot more like you belong with the Jayhawks.
1. Let yourself feel it
The first step is to not ignore feelings of homesickness. Be kind to yourself – missing home doesn’t mean that you’re not adjusting well, it means you have strong connections and that is something to celebrate. Take a minute to acknowledge those feelings instead of pushing them away. Journal, cry it out, or talk to someone who understands. It’s okay to miss what is familiar when you are building something new.
2. Create new comforts
Whether you’ve moved towns, states or countries, it helps to make small things in your new environment feel familiar. Bring your favourite decorations from home, print out photos of your friends and family or light your favourite candle. Finding a local coffee shop that feels cozy or a walk that reminds you of your neighbourhood back home can help you build “mini comfort zones” and can help KU start to feel more like home.
3. Stay connected – but not glued
Calling home can be comforting, but try to find a balance. Set up regular FaceTime calls with your family or friends so you can check in without feeling like you’re missing what is happening on campus. Remember, home will always be there – but these college experiences are fleeting.
4. Get Involved
The best way to fight homesickness is to root yourself into your new community. Join a club, go to a football game, or attend an on-campus event (there’s almost always something happening). KU has so many ways to connect – from student organizations to volunteer groups to inter-mural sports.
5. Give it time
Adjusting takes time – and everyone’s timeline looks different. Some people feel settled after a week, for others it might take months. Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. One day, you’ll realize that college feels like home, this just happens gradually.
Homesickness does not mean that you’re doing college “wrong”. It just means you care deeply about where you came from. Every day you are creating new memories, routines, and relationships that will soon feel just as special. However, if things ever feel like too much, do not be afraid to reach out to loved ones or your college’s mental health services. College will soon become another home – give yourself the grace to get there.