Feeling Homesick?

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Moving away to attend college may be the most thrilling experience you’ve ever had so far. You moved away from home to learn, grow, and experience new things, but most importantly to invest in yourself through education. Obstacles will come up along the way, including feeling homesick. 

What is homesickness? Well, it is basically missing your family, friends, the way you did things before, your bed, your pets, and everything about your existence before you moved away. It affects us all differently and we cope with it in various ways.

Here are some tips to coping with your feelings of being homesick.

It is okay to admit you are homesick.

The first step is understanding you are homesick. After acknowledging it you can being taking proper care to make the homesickness go away. A lot of students miss home, whether it is their first year or last it may be a continuous struggle. But as the years go by you start noticing what and who helps you feel better.

Build Your Support Team

A support system can be critical to get you through this. The counseling center on campus (known as CaPS) can be super helpful with a professional to talk to. Other supports include getting involved and making friends. These friends should be good listeners and people who accept you as you are. Talk to your friends and listen to each other as you go through all of the changes that moving away from home brings. A true friend wants to help you and see you thrive. Experience new things together, such as going out dancing, walking on the beach, exploring Long Beach on bikes, exercise at the Rec and Wellness Center, drinking coffee on campus, or having a sleepover. Reaching out and making new friends can be great help when you miss home.

Make Time to Talk

College can get chaotic, make time for your loved ones from home. Set up a time to call your mom or dad. Start a group chat with your siblings on snapchat or a group message on Facebook with your whole family. Randomly call your cousins. A text does not take very long and it can be as simple as “I am safe, healthy and fed, goodnight”. If this is not the case, do not lie to them either! Be honest, they are just as nervous as you having their precious child off to college on their own.
Plan ahead and make arrangements to go home on the weekends and holidays. Carpool if you can with other CSULB students, but be safe about it! Purchase tickets ahead of time so you can save money. Look at your syllabus to be informed about good times to leave town.

Your Wellness is a Priority

Regardless if you can go home or not, make your wellness a priority. Try to maintain a positive attitude, remind yourself of your goals, why you are here, and why you are doing what you are doing. Fuel yourself with healthy foods. Find activities you enjoy like running, playing tennis, or salsa dancing.

If you are feeling sick, the Student Health Services is on campus and here to help students. Call or walk in for an appointment. Appointments are free and available Monday through Friday 8am-5pm. There is also the counseling center (CaPS) located at Brotman Hall on the second floor if you need to talk to a professional counselor.


By Yesenia Garcia

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