By Brianna Brinker, Arts & Culture Editor
Starting college for the very first time is like entering a whole new world. Your routine totally changes from living at home your entire life to living at a university far from home, away from all the people you know.
Although it can be exciting, it is very normal to be homesick. You are not alone in feeling like this. Normalizing homesickness is important because most college students go through it. It is okay to experience sadness and feeling like you’re not in the right place.
College is a different environment with different people and the feelings you are going through will pass.
Isolating yourself in your dorm room can make homesickness worse. The best thing to do is go out on campus. Start with a simple walk to Benedict’s, grab a coffee you love, and explore! You might come across your new favorite spot or even make some new friends.
Saint Leo University is a very peaceful campus, and just getting fresh air and sitting outside can make you feel better.
The first few days are the hardest because class hasn’t started yet. Once your classes start and your routine starts to develop, it gets better. Focusing your time on your classes distracts your mind from being away from home and gives you something to work on that you are passionate about.
Dr. Audrea Maxwell, student success coach and academic advisor, gives advice to freshmen.
“The student should try and build good relationships with other students. They can do this by participating in and attending social activities on campus where they can meet others,” said Maxwell.
One of her biggest pieces of advice is to join a club or organization about something you are personally interested in. Don’t follow what everyone else is doing or what you think you have to do.
At the beginning of every semester, Saint Leo hosts an event where you can discover clubs and organizations at the very beginning of the semester. You can even talk to members of those clubs and organizations and ask any questions.
This is an exciting part of college that eases your homesickness because you will be doing something that interests you! For example, if you love music, join the choir or learn how to play an instrument. If you love cheerleading, try out for the cheer team, and if you love to write, join the newspaper! There is something for everyone at Saint Leo.
If your mental health is declining and you are feeling homesick or depressed, there are solutions right on campus. Saint Leo offers counseling where you can talk to someone in the Wellness Center. There are people here for you.
Also, Saint Leo offers Campus ministry where you can be with people who love Jesus. You can attend Mass, go to women’s or men’s groups weekly, and go on yearly trips together.
Saint Leo also offers Truthseekers, a non-denominational church that anyone is welcome to attend. There is a church service every Sunday and Bible study on Thursdays.
If you brought your car, get off campus for a while and see what is around you. Sometimes, college can feel like a bubble that you’re stuck in. If you have the chance, go on a drive, and you might discover a new store you love or a delicious coffee shop. Walk around Dade City or do your homework at a local Starbucks.
Take a break and even drive home if possible. We all need a break from college sometimes so if home is not too far away, make a trip home on the weekend and spend time with your loved ones. Going home will always be comforting, and it is always there for you.
“Being away from home, where home was the student’s ‘normal’ for many years, can be quite emotionally challenging; however, embracing the ‘why’ of the reason they are away from their home and family while doing their best to climatize to their new environment can help ease the feeling of homesickness,” said Maxwell.
Saint Leo becomes your second home that you learn to love. Give it a chance and don’t base your experience on a couple of days. See how you feel by the end of the semester. Even if it takes time, you will find friends that become best friends.
Make your dorm feel homey with decor that feels like you and bring stuff from home that comforts you. Go to the baseball games, head over to the events offered, and romanticize your new college life. It is going to be worth it! Welcome new Lions!
