Studying at a university in the U.S. was always my biggest dream and goal after I graduated from high school. Coming from Prague in the Czech Republic, studying this far seemed like a big opportunity for me to grow as a person and get one step closer in becoming a journalist for a magazine in the U.S. while studying journalism.
That dream became my reality and now I am a sophomore at the University of Tampa. Time goes by so fast, and I cannot believe my freshman year is already over. I really did grow as a person for the past year and became more independent as I had to get used to being far away from home and flying across the Atlantic ocean all by myself.
However, I thought that by this time I won’t get homesick anymore since I am a sophomore now, and that I will feel more at home in Florida. Well, I was wrong.
The first week I returned back to campus, no matter how excited I was to be back, the only thing I wanted to do was cry since I missed my family that I got so used to seeing everyday again for the past four months over the summer break. I felt the same homesickness as I did the first few days my freshman year and I did not know why, because I thought I would already be used to it.
However, I realized that it’s okay to feel homesick, and I gave myself permission to be sad for a while and told myself that it will be okay again, even if it’s been a while since I began my college journey. I heard that even juniors or seniors in college get homesick, so I knew that it’s completely normal, especially coming all the way from Europe.
First few days I was thinking if I even actually wanted to study in the U.S. and if I made the right choice, but I knew that all these thoughts were only caused by my homesickness and because I got used to being back in my hometown in Czech Republic. I missed my culture, speaking Czech language, the city of Prague, the historical architecture and just all the memories I have made back home since I was a kid.
However, all these thoughts I had for a few days after I moved back into my dorm, I knew that it would be okay again once the classes start and I become busy again.
I reminded myself why I wanted to study in the U.S. and why I spent years preparing to apply to universities here and that I am doing this for myself and my future. Well, now it’s already been almost four weeks since I’m back at university and I don’t feel that way I did when I arrived anymore. I knew I had to give myself time and that there is no specific time when we stop being homesick.
I will probably still get homesick moments until my graduation, and I’m learning to accept it. I am glad and grateful for having the opportunity to study where I always wanted to and keep working towards my goals and dreams.
Maybe if I would give up and decide to go back to Europe, I would feel relieved for a while but later I would regret it for giving up. Being homesick from time to time is normal, and we should not kick ourselves for that or feel ashamed.
I keep reminding myself that this is part of growing up and I know that I can always come back to my family and my hometown over the break, and I will always have my family’s support and belong to where I came from. I know that there are great things ahead of me and many things I want to accomplish and work on while being in college, so I will keep pushing myself, while enjoying my college journey.