How to Deal With Homesickness in College
Posted: February 28, 2022 | Author: Abbie Cochrane | Read Time: 4 minutes
Starting college can be scary, and without your family or loved ones by your side to help you, it can be even scarier, especially if you’re an international student. If you’re feeling shy, lost, lonely, depressed, or if you’re avoiding activities and spending most of your time on the phone with your family, you could be feeling homesick. You might be unfamiliar with the area around you and added culture shocks can also be a stressor for some students, but there are ways to help yourself feel better.
5 Ways to Help Cure Homesickness in College
Hit the Local “It” Place
Where does everyone go to hang out or get a bite to eat? What restaurants do you think will give you comfort, if not a little taste of home? Visit different restaurants, cafes, and food stops around your college campus to find your new comfort spot. You might even meet new people there!
Make Yourself at Home
Decorate your dorm or apartment so it doesn’t feel as unfamiliar. Maybe you brought some decorations and pictures from home that you can put up. Go out and shop at the local supermarket or home decor store for items to make your room a little more personal and a little more like you. Put yourself into your living space. The more like home you make it, the more like home it will feel.
Reach Out
Chances are, someone is feeling just as scared and as overwhelmed as you are. Meet your roommates, try out a club that interests you, and put yourself out there a little bit at a time. Try to meet new people – you could be just the person they need too. If you download the SUU app on your smartphone, you will get alerts of upcoming events, access to the list of clubs, and any other resource you need to help you put yourself out there. If it helps, you can schedule a daily call with a family member or a friend back home. Keeping in touch like this is a good way to help ease your nerves while you get used to your new surroundings.
Give Yourself Time to Adjust
Know that your feelings are one hundred percent valid. Keep in mind that spells of homesickness usually don’t last more than a few weeks. Your blues will go away as you familiarize yourself with the area, the SUU campus, and the people. Getting into a routine can keep you busy, which can help you to forget about feeling homesick.
Take Advantage of Campus Resources
If you find that your homesickness isn’t going away, maybe it’s time to take your worries to a professional. Check out the SUU health office for mental health support and resources that you can reach out to. For more information about counseling for homesickness and depression, visit the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) website.
Of course, the big takeaway is to get out of your room and make new friends, but understandably, that can be difficult for the first little while. It takes time to balance accepting change and easing into accepting your new situation. And that is perfectly okay. If you know someone from your hometown who is also attending SUU, reach out to them. Go to events, activities, and participate in clubs around campus to meet new people who are interested in the same things that you are. Get involved in the community with service groups to make a difference and make friends. On the days when your social battery is a little low, or you’re feeling a little extra nervous, try connecting virtually. Send a text, like an Instagram post, find a digital way to reach out that isn’t as nerve-wracking as social interaction can be. There isn’t any shame in being nervous to meet a school full of entirely new people. At the end of the day, touch base with your family to check in and say hi. Chances are, they’re homesick for you too, but they are proud of you for getting out there and going to school. Remember, it’s okay to miss your home, your friends, and your family, and that there is a supportive community at SUU that wants to help college feel like home for you.
Feeling homesick is nothing to be ashamed of. Fortunately for you, there are plenty of people who are willing to help you and offer you the tools and resources to help you adjust to college life. It’s a big step, but it’s one you can take. Visit the CAPS office, SUU Dining Services, the SUU Club website, and the SUU calendar to help ease your way into your new home away from home and avoid homesickness in college.
Tags: Mental Health Student Life CAPS
