Missing Home: A College Student’s Guide to Homesickness

Homesickness, Defined

The issue of homesickness while away at college is a very real problem for students all over the world. In fact, over one-third of college freshmen report getting homesick while away at school. Although the problem may seem daunting we have all—except for those lucky enough to be home-schooled—faced this problem head-on many years ago. Try to think back to those first days of kindergarten. I can still remember getting on bus #17 and waving goodbye to half the neighborhood gathered at the end of my driveway. I was so excited to finally be on that big, yellow bus—but reality soon set in as I realized my mom hadn’t followed me to school and that I was completely alone. Not to mention confused and terrified! All I wanted was to be home eating breakfast and watching Fraggle Rock! And so began our first battle with homesickness—but as you all know, we survived it. So, how did we do it? And how can we use that experience if we start missing home while away at school?

The Meds

On that first day of kindergarten we all miss our families like no other! So, how did we all overcome those first tinges of homesickness? We made friends! Try this tactic while you’re away at college. Remember that everyone is in the same boat—especially freshmen and most people are probably missing home just like you. So, take a deep breath and strike up a conversation with someone in your dorm or maybe in one of your classes. When you have deep relationships, they will truly begin to feel like your family away from home, and the deep heartache of missing the familiar will start to fade. After all, college is a time to try new things and challenge yourself by seeking out new and interesting people. Your mind may wander from how much you miss home to which of your friends to make plans with tonight!

Find Your Niche

Once we all arrived in our first classroom we had to choose which activity we liked best. Would it be coloring? Numbers? Puzzles? Our favorite activity was a big decision but once we found our niche the day seemed to fly by. Many college students who decide to withdraw from school use the same diehard excuse: “I just couldn’t find my niche—you know, people like me.” With most campuses boasting countless clubs and activities, it takes time to find the crowd that may best suit you. But take the time to seek them out. Check your school’s student activities office or website for a complete list of clubs at your school or in your area. Chances are there is a group out there with your name on it!

Enjoy Your Recess!

If anything took our mind off of being away from home, it was the glorious 30 minutes that we spent at recess. While out on the playground or chasing boys, we could relax and run wild, forgetting all of our troubles. Granted, troubles are much different now than they were back then, but creating and committing yourself to an exercise routine can function much like recess did so many years ago. Through exercise, however strenuous, we can escape for the time being and forget about how much we long to be home. The commitment to exercise can also help to build a daily routine which helps us to focus our attention not on what we could be doing at home, but how to get the most out of our days while away at school.

It Doesn’t Last Forever

Yes, times have changed drastically since our first days in elementary school, but didn’t someone once say, “All I ever needed to know I learned in kindergarten?” So, when faced with homesickness, think back to the ways we all overcame our very first battle with it during grade school. Seek out new people, take time to find your niche within your campus community, enjoy your recess by using exercise to create a calming daily routine and get plugged in to what your campus has to offer. Don’t beat yourself up for missing home, and allow yourself an occasional connection with family or old friends through email, or a phone call to boost your spirits enough to meet new people.

Also, understand that the transition into college does take time—even if you’re not a freshman, those first few weeks can still be lonely and you may not feel perfectly at home once you step foot on campus. But take the time to get to know your surroundings and meet new people—there’s nothing like it to cure the homesick blues, and it’s a commitment you won’t regret!

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