The Loss of Familiarity

Kate Murphy

Newswriting and Reporting

Writing Assignment #3

The Loss of Familiarity

            The longing for freedom may have side effects. College is very exciting for students, as they are able to taste independence for the first time. College life can bring forth a lot of dreams for the students, but some may start to feel the uneasiness of homesickness. Homesickness is a natural, temporary condition which goes away, as long as the student is willing to accept their feelings and start a new chapter in their life.

When homesickness strikes, it takes students off guard. In a place where everything is new, from their room to the faces that they see in their classes, it is natural to feel alone. The feelings of love, protection, and security, may not be present in their new environment.

“Homesickness is very normal,” Julie Kim, a licensed professional clinical counselor at The College of Saint Scholastica said.  “Incoming freshman don't only adjust to being at school, they are adjusting to every part of their life-independence; building new social networks, figuring out what they want to do with the rest of their life, independent decision making, time management. Not only is it stressful and overwhelming, they have lost the familiarity of their home, their own room, their usual routine, friends in high school, and everything that they know.”

Homesickness can become unhealthy and the students, who do not learn to deal with homesickness, may go into depression. Thus, it is important that students who experience homesickness know about how to deal with it. Students who do go into a depression should visit the college counselor to talk about their feelings.

“Sometimes just having a person to talk to who is objective helps,” Kim said.

How do we overcome these emotions though? Accept your feelings. Some students may think that being homesick is childish. In reality, homesickness is just part of human life no matter what your age.

“I spent 18 years with them,” Amanda Moore, a junior at The College of St. Scholastica, said. “I woke up one day and my parents weren't there. It was a new concept to get used to.”         

Getting involved is a great distraction. St. Scholastica offers many different organizations and activities, such as Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and the Dance Team, to get involved with and to start getting rid of the homesickness bug. Instead of going home every weekend, students should call their parents and friends to catch up. The weekends on campus are the times where the most socializing occurs.

Homesickness can take its toll on the student, but it’s just a way of life; Look at college as a challenge and try to overcome it. It may be difficult, but you can do it.