A college student’s guide to coping with homesickness

I bet this past summer you were counting the days until you got to Morgantown. You were even telling all your friends how great it is and how you couldn’t wait until you were back at West Virginia University. Now you can’t wait until you go back home, right?

This is called homesickness, my friends. Well, either that or confusion, because WVU is certainly one of the best places in the country for a college-age student to be.

Homesickness is very common and even expected in college students. Some students probably felt it 20 minutes after they arrived in Morgantown. Regardless of whether it is major or minor, all students experience it.

Whether it’s sleeping in your own bed, eating your mom’s lasagna for dinner or even going to the same Wal-Mart you’ve known your whole life, everyone has some degree of attachment to home. This isn’t just a freshman thing, either. I know upperclassmen who still wouldn’t mind going home from time to time. Regardless of what year you’re in, homesickness is a terrible malady that can strike anytime during the semester.

Students who say they are getting homesick are sometimes looked at as weak and not mature enough to be in college. In all actuality, homesickness can affect a person’s grades, attitude and stress level. The good thing is that there are plenty of ways to cope with it.

If you become homesick, you should embrace it. Allowing yourself to miss home can help you deal with your homesickness.

Many college students have different ways of dealing with homesickness. Calling a friend who went away to college can also do the trick. Chances are your friend is probably feeling the same way, and having an old friend you can talk to about home can do wonders.

Going out with some of your colleagues is another thing that could help. Sitting in your dorm room or apartment and rubbing that lamp isn’t going to help you get over your homesickness or make a genie come out of it, for that matter. Get out and attend a university-sponsored weekend event like WVUp All Night, or discover why we have such a high party school ranking.

Talking to your family could help a lot, too. Just because you left them doesn’t mean they’re gone forever. Most laptops have cameras now, so you could video chat your family after dinner. Try not to call too often, though, because this could prevent you from getting comfortable with your college life and could make you more homesick.

Try not to make any sudden decisions when you get homesick. When people get overwhelmed, they tend to make irrational decisions that could end up hurting them in the long run. You shouldn’t jet home to see your dog Bubbles and forget about that organic chemistry test you have the next day.

Now, I know none of those things are going to bring you the satisfaction of your mom’s lasagna, but it should take the edge off a little bit. Find what makes you happy here and that should ease the pain of not being home.