I get it, sometimes college dorm rooms can feel like tiny prison cells, but it doesn’t have to stay that way!
My school didn’t allow things to be hung on the walls and I had about enough room for my bed and my desk in the room with enough space to walk between them! Coming up are some tips that I found helped me to cope with homesickness. These aren’t foolproof but they worked for me, and with some luck, they might just work for you!
Have a little experience!
First things first, this wasn’t my first time being away from home overnight for more than a day. That helped!
During high school, I would spend the night at a friend’s house, but that’s a lot different than being away from home for weeks or months. During my high school years, I went to a couple of camps that gave me chance to spend a week or two in a college dorm or other similar places. I wasn’t a stranger to having a roommate either. I had a roommate for many years, approximately 13 from the time I was born to when my older sister went to college. I also had roommates at the overnight camps that I went to. I don’t mind sharing a room and it was even something that helped me not feel so alone. Having a roommate helping me to relate to my time at home. I honestly don’t think I would’ve been as well off when I went to college if I had a single room rather than a double.
The summer before leaving for college I went to the National Youth Science Camp in West Virginia. I’m not allowed to say much about it so that future campers can have the same amazing experience that I did, without spoilers. At camp, I was miles from home, with limited phone and internet access along with sharing a cabin with somewhere around 20 other people, maybe more. The camp was three and a half weeks-long and only I called my parents twice. (They still aren’t too happy about that. Oops, I’d suggest you call home more often than that!) That time apart from home and my family before leaving for college made leaving easier for me. I was used to not seeing them every day and I knew that I could call and text whenever I needed to and they’d respond. I understand that not everyone is fortunate enough to have a pre-college experience like this. However, I do believe that getting out of the house and spending some time away from home before leaving for college is worthwhile. Whether the week-long camps I did in high school were enjoyable or not, they gave me a small glimpse into what college was going to be like so that I wasn’t going in completely blind.
Decorate!
I’m not saying you need to go overboard and bring a million throw pillows (please don’t, they take up so much space). However, do bring pictures from home, of your dog, your boyfriend, your friends, anything that makes you feel more at ease. Before I went to college I printed out a ton of pictures from camp, of my boyfriend and me, my family, and my friends, along with some of my pets. I had a few frames on my desk and a couple of other pictures that I just hung with some double-sided tape to the back of my desk. This allowed me to feel less apart from them even though I had moved 300 miles. I still hang those pictures in every single one of my apartments even though it’s not foreign to be away from home anymore.
I even have a few small knick-knacks that I’ve been given as gifts that I brought with me. They remind me of home and of my friends and family! It’s really the small things that make a huge difference!
Don’t buy all new things for college!
Many people go shopping and get brand new everything for college. However, I didn’t do this, partly because I’m cheap and didn’t want to spend the money, and partly because I have blankets and pillows that I’m partial to and that I didn’t want to leave home without. I am within driving distance, so it’s not too much of a hassle to bring that pillow and blanket home with me when I go.
Before I moved into college my mom and I had sewn a t-shirt quilt with shirts that had all kinds of memories attached to them. I brought that quilt, another quilt that I had sewn, and a throw blanket, (as you can see I like blankets) along with my favorite pillow for my bed. I didn’t go out and buy all new blankets, I bought new sheets simply because of the size difference and ease, but the rest of it was from home. It made my bed feel less foreign at college even when everything else was different.
Just for the record I do have other pillows and blankets at home so I won’t be cold and uncomfortable if I forget them or don’t have room to bring them!
Plants! (or other items that make you happy)
During my sophomore year specifically, I started collecting plants. I’ve always loved plants, but during my freshman year, I wasn’t allowed a car on campus so I had limited access to stores. I had 3 plants by the end of my freshman year that I brought from home or acquired at school. Now, at the beginning of my 4th year on campus (I’m in a 5-year program), I have 10 plants. Admittedly, I don’t have the window space or the sunlight in my apartment this year for many of them so they live at my boyfriend’s apartment, but he doesn’t complain that much. I found that the plants spruced up the bland dorm rooms that I was living in with plain white walls, grey floors, and no organic colors. My plants were especially brightening during the winter when everything outside was grey and white and bland as well. My favorite way to acquire plants is at local nurseries or small businesses, and the plant pot helps to spruce up the room too. I also really love to pick the perfect plant pot for my plants.
Maybe plants don’t make you as happy as they make me, but find something that you love that brightens up your room and makes you smile when you see it!
Stay busy!
It’s important when you first go to school or start missing home that you try to stay busy or to be around other people. If you are alone and have nothing going on, you are likely to dwell on the fact that you miss home. When you start to feel homesick, try to find something else to think about or do. You can still text or call home because maybe all you need is to talk to your family for a bit to feel better. It depends on the scenario, but sitting around stewing and moping about being away from home isn’t going to help it get better.
Don’t dwell on what you’re missing!
When at college, if it’s not close to home, there are likely things that you will miss out on. I honestly wasn’t prepared for that. There is likely going to be weird and maybe random traditions that you forget all about until that time of year comes around. You need to remember that it’s not the end of the world to miss it, you can join in next year, or whenever you are able. It’ll all turn out okay. I can almost guarantee that!
In the beginning, I would think of all that I was missing by being so far away, but eventually, I realized that I needed to change my perspective. Yes, I missed my friends and family, and I missed spending time with them, but if I was only thinking about what I was missing I would also be missing out on making new friends and making great memories with them! Instead of dwelling on what you’re missing out on, remember how many new and exciting experiences you’re gaining by going away to college and making new friends!
My final tip! (congrats, you made it to the end!)
Just listen to yourself. Usually how you’re feeling is in direct correlation to what you need to do. If you’re feeling homesick, call home! If you’re feeling like you’re missing out on something, find some friends and have a great time anyway! Going away to college may seem daunting, scary, and new. But you’ll get the hang of it quickly and make amazing new friends and memories that will last a lifetime!