By Tayhana Taylor, World News Editor
Leaving home and moving to college is a big deal for college students. Most look forward to finally having personal freedom, forming new relationships, and having fun; however, leaving home is not as glamorous as it seems, because with all the new experiences comes homesickness.
It is quite typical for students moving away from home to a new environment to feel homesick, whether they are coming from across the globe or a few miles from home.
“It is common for us to interact with students who are struggling with homesickness…I mainly work with the international student population, these students tend to struggle a lot because they are coming a little further from home,” said Paige Ramsey-Hamacher, the executive director of Saint Leo’s Center for Global Engagement (CGE). Ramsey-Hamacher continued, “I definitely think it is something everyone experiences at some point or another.”
The feeling of being homesick may strike a student at any time. For some, it is the first day they step on campus and say goodbye to their families. For others, it may be during the week of midterm exams, when they are overwhelmed and could use a hug from a relative.
“I think the feeling starts for many students after orientation when they say bye to their families because that can be a very difficult time for some students,” said Ramsey-Hamacher.
“I usually celebrate my birthday with my family, so for me, the feeling of homesickness struck me on my birthday. It ebbed and flowed throughout my first year of college, there were times when I cried and found it challenging to focus on my studies,” said Ashley Tucker, a sophomore here at Saint Leo University majoring in criminalistics with a minor in psychology.
While feelings of sadness, loneliness, and depression are symptoms of homesickness, there are other ways students express their feelings of being homesick.
“I think there are different ways that students use to express their homesickness. Overeating and unhealthy eating habits can be a sign of missing home,” said Carol Hope-Grant, the assistant director of the CGE.
Homesickness is never something that goes away entirely, most students just learn to cope with it.
“One of the main things that could help students with homesickness is getting involved in the school’s community. Our students can get involved by joining a club, an organization, getting an on-campus job, playing a sport, or even just forming a great bond with their roommates,” said Hope-Grant. It may be hard to fight the feeling of wanting to be asocial but staying isolated will make things harder for students who miss home.
“When I felt homesick, I started calling my relatives back home more often. Seeing everyone over a video call and hearing how they were doing helped me feel better,” said Tucker.
Another major key to coping with homesickness is talking to people about it. “For freshmen moving away from home, I would encourage them to talk to their friends, connect with family members, and remember that they are never alone,” said Tucker.
Students can also call or schedule an appointment with a licensed therapist at Saint Leo’s Counselling Services. Saint Leo’s Counselling and Prevention Services uses a holistic approach to helping students their mental well-being. Counselling and Prevention Services is in their temporary office in Saint Francis Hall Suite 110, or students can call (352) 588-TALK. Therapists are available 24/7 to assist all students. See page 11 for more information.
There are other great resources students can explore on their own when feeling homesick:
Handling homesickness is not a simple task, but it isn’t impossible.
“The university provides students with many resources on how to handle homesickness so my best advice would be to take advantage of these resources because they are for you,” said Ramsey-Hamacher.
“The faculty and staff at Saint Leo are your resources, so use us, because we are here for you,” said Grant.
Saint Leo will always be your home away from home, so find activities you enjoy, make great friends, and form lifelong relationships. Just don’t forget to take college life one day at a time.
