As freshmen begin their first semester at college, many of them move away from home for the first time. Whether they are a few hours away from family, or a long flight away, homesickness can make this new phase of life even harder.
"It’s important to remember that homesickness doesn’t necessarily mean that something is wrong." Phillip Rash, clinical professor and licensed psychologist, said. "In fact, it is actually an anticipated normal response to separation from familiar people like family and friends, routines and responsibilities."
Rash explained homesickness and stress are natural responses to the sudden change in routine and separation from family students experience.
"It doesn’t imply that a student is failing in the transition," Rash said. "A student can feel excited about the transition to school and to greater independence and at the same time, experience homesickness."
When someone moves away from home and starts college, a lot of things happen at once. Students might miss their families, feel overwhelmed with new responsibilities and have a hard time making new friends.
Students might wonder if they made the wrong choice when college feels different than they expected.
"Building new friendships, creating new routines and finding one’s niche takes time," Rash said. "Sometimes students feel that if this doesn't happen quickly — that they have somehow failed. This is a complex transition and there is no set timeline for when and how things occur."
There are many things new students can do to make the transition easier.
"It’s important to establish new routines — they can fill a void and be quite grounding during a transition," Rash said. "I would encourage students to maintain a connection with the important people in their lives while building new connections in classes, study groups, wards, clubs and campus events."
Connection is an important part of dealing with homesickness. Getting involved on campus is a great way to feel happier and avoid isolation.
Having a positive mindset about moving away from home can also be a factor in making freshman year a good experience.
"Moving away from home for the first time and meeting all new people is an almost unprecedented opportunity to construct the identity that you would like to have," Dianne Tice, professor of applied social psychology, said.
Students may have been labeled a certain way in high school. College is an opportunity to introduce themselves to a new social scene in a more authentic way.
"If you are known as the quiet one or the athlete or the one who fixes everyone’s problems or the class clown … but you no longer feel comfortable in that role, this is a prime opportunity to change how others perceive you," Tice said. "Maybe you want to take on more of a leadership role, become more studious or more spiritual."
Beginning college can be one of the most exciting and exploratory times.
"One way to combat loneliness is to see this time as a unique opportunity to grow into the person you would like to become," Tice said. "Recognize that you have greater agency in constructing your identity now than in almost any other time of your life. Seize this opportunity."
Feeling lonely, nervous or homesick is a normal part of starting college away from home. However, it can also be an amazing time of new connections and experiences.