It’s a feeling that happens when we don’t expect it to. We’re so caught up and excited about the fact that we’re leaving home for such a long period of time that it goes unnoticed. And then the first few weeks go by, it hits, and sometimes it’s brutal.
Contrary to popular belief, being homesick when coming to college is a pretty common thing that happens to some people who move away from home for the first time. And that’s okay. I know when I was coming to college I couldn’t wait to get out of Vegas. It was always hot and unless you were 21 or older, the only things to do for fun were to see a movie, go bowling, or go to the mall. How invigorating. Moving away was the start of a new beginning, a new phase, and practically a new life for me. I was able to finally have freedom and a life away from my parents. Don’t get me wrong, my parents are my rock and I owe them my life—even though they gave me life—but it was time for me to grow up and learn how to do some things on my own.
It was good for the first two weeks. I had all of my friends surrounding me and my first semester of college classes to focus on, but something felt off. A part of me started to feel empty. Having lived in the same place for 18 years of my life, there was a routine I became accustomed to, as well as seeing my parents every single day. I tried to deny it, but knowing that my daily routine was changed started to have an effect on me. I would get sad randomly if I ever thought about my friends or my family back home, or even just wondering what they were doing. There were times where I would get off the phone with my mom and dad and so many feelings would begin to bottle up inside me and I would cry. I’ve never liked vocalizing my feelings, so I kept the fact that I was homesick to myself, but it was a little bit noticeable. I flew home practically every month during my freshman year. There was just that part of me that missed being home.
As well as being away from home and from what I knew, the fear of missing out really hit me hard, as well. I was continuously worrying about my life back at home while trying to live my life here in Reno. It was hard to find a balance because I felt like I was missing out on so many things that my friends were doing. It got to the point where I'd constantly worry about what my friends were doing and I couldn't focus on what I was doing here. I'd try and find ways to come home as much as possible just for the sake of being able to be with my friends and family. Sometimes we may fear that we're going to miss something when we're not looking, but at the same time, we may not realize what's happening in front of us so we end up missing that, too. Despite all of these feelings, I was still able to enjoy my time in Reno as a college freshman: Finding my way and exploring the city, attending football games, and social gatherings and making the best of my first of four years.
Even to this day, I still get homesick sometimes and I’m going into my senior year, but I find ways to live past it. If anyone reading this has ever been homesick before, just know that you’re not alone. It’s fine to feel this way. If you’re a new student to the university or even just leaving home for the first time, it’ll be okay to feel these feelings. Don’t hide it and keep the feelings bottled up. Try to keep yourself preoccupied. Find clubs and organizations to join on campus to make the transition easier. Go out with your friends and explore the city by trying out having your new found freedom. Pick up new hobbies. And the most important part: Stay in touch with your loved ones. Communication is key when it comes to being homesick.
It's okay to be homesick. Leaving the nest is all a part of growing up and going out on your own. At the end of the day, home is still home and you can still go back whenever you want to.
