Many years ago, my fifth-grade class went on a field trip. I planned to play cards, eat snacks, and do whatever a ten-year-old would want to do on a class trip. However, my plans were derailed after one of my friends started crying and said, “I miss my parents.”
Back then, I mindlessly comforted her by saying, “Don’t cry,” but I could not understand why she was crying. I was so excited to be away from my parents and enjoy the freedom from brown rice, beans, and studying, and to be indulging in white rice, snacks, and the absence of academics. I did not realize that everything would have felt foreign and scary to my friend since it was her first time spending time away from her family.
Many students might find themselves in a similar place to my friend, especially since many of us have to stay away from home for months, and maybe years. Thus, having a short checklist to process your feelings could come in handy. A few ideas you can add to your list are introduced in this article. You don’t have to do all of them since everyone can experience some level of loneliness or homesickness, but each person's reasons are unique. And that is why the list starts with this specific recommendation:
Accept your feelings, and think about why you feel so.
Maybe you are having a hard time adjusting to your new environment due to the difficulty of your studies, a roommate with a drastically different lifestyle, or food that your taste buds are having a hard time adjusting to. Ask yourself what moments make your longing for home, family, and friends even more intense. When you identify them, finding a solution becomes much more manageable.
Talk about it with your friends, or utilize CTC or TeleHealth.
What should you do if you are not used to identifying your feelings, or have no idea where to start asking for help with the problems present in your life? Talking about it with reliable friends is an excellent place to start, but I also recommend utilizing the Counseling & Testing Center. If the thought of physically meeting someone or scheduling a time on the phone is already stressing you out, remember that you can also talk with a counselor online via TeleHealth. These services are all free to you, so take advantage of them.
Find the club(s) that feels like home.
If you are missing some elements from your home, such as the food, the vibe, or the language, check out the cultural clubs available on the campus. At Andrews University, it is rare for someone to say they can not find anyone who shares their cultural background. Check out the Andrews Engage website and read through the list of clubs. Even if you cannot find a club that promotes your cultural background, you will easily find a club that shares your hobbies or interests. If there is none, becoming a pioneer and starting a club is an option too. Make yourself at home!
Schedule a date to visit home.
We can try everything while we stay on campus, but sometimes we have to go back home to feel better and fight the loneliness that homesickness brings to our lives. The good news is that we have breaks several times over the school year. If you miss home, tell yourself Thanksgiving is only three weeks away, and you will meet your friends and families back home in no time. Three more Foundations of Biology Quizzes/Tests, and you will be hugging everyone you missed or tasting the food only your family can cook right.
Call your loved ones.
Homesick or not, it’s always a good idea to call your loved ones every now and then. Let them know how you are doing and vice versa. Just as much as you missed them, it is likely that they were also missing you. Distance sometimes helps us realize our love for each other, so express your feelings regularly. You will soon realize that the homesickness that the distance has initially planted in your heart will quickly be replaced with a bigger affection toward your loved ones.
Lastly, I would like to make a quick note that if this “homesickness” is not getting any better for months or years, and it is affecting you so much that it is deteriorating your physical health, you should reassess the situation. It might not be simple homesickness but a psychological disorder such as depression or anxiety. The CTC and TeleHealth are always good places to start looking for help. You are not alone in this process. Stay strong and happy, dear friends! :-)
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.