The night when my parents left me for the first time in the dorms, I was so excited. No more curfews, no more nagging, no more chores, and ultimately the freedom to do whatever I wanted. I took my freshman Summer B to take advantage of this new-found freedom. However, after weeks and weeks of frozen dinners, doing my own laundry, and living in a tiny dorm, I became extremely homesick.
Little things that I never used to think twice about now started to turn into nostalgic wants. The coffee my mom used to make for me every morning, the smell of my house, the home-cooked meals, my pets, and the overall feelings of being taken care of by my parents. Once Summer B ended, I realized it wasn’t just a little vacation, but I was actually on my own now.
Some of us are lucky and live relatively close to home where trips back and forth aren’t a big deal. But for those of us who live across the state or even across the country, homesickness can occur quite often.
If this sounds like you, consider these tips to get over your homesick feelings:
1.     Post pictures of your family and friends from home in your room:Having pictures around your room that reminds you of people you love will have you reminiscing of fond memories.
2.     Try to get involved in something to make yourself busy: If you’re out and about keeping yourself busy, you won’t have time to sit around and mope about how homesick you are. Doing this might even make you like your new home even more.
3.     Learn recipes from yourparents that they make at home: If you’re missing your mom’s home-cooked meals or a specific dessert she used to make, call her up and have her give you the recipe.
4.     Allow time to get used to your new home: Everything takes time to get used to. Instead of automatically saying your new college town is unsuitable, give it time; it might have a lot of great things to offer you.
5.     Don’t ignore your feelings: If you’re feeling homesick, it’s important that you try and be strong and do things out of your element to feel better; however if it still persists, try to make visits home every month or two to see your family.
Once the glitz and glam of going to college wears off, and you start missing your family, take some of these tips into consideration before you start thinking about moving back home. Although all situations are different, college is a huge stepping stone to starting your life as an adult. Mixed emotions about being away from home are normal, so when you’re feeling down, just remember that college is supposed to be one of the most fun experiences of your life, so try to sit back and just enjoy the ride.