Battling Homesickness

One of the things that almost every college student faces during their time in school is homesickness. Being away from family and hometown friends can be difficult, regardless of how far you are into your college career. 

We asked some JBU students how they handle homesickness. Here’s what they said:

“Set up a schedule for regular calls back home. Not too frequently, but often enough.” – Ashley Nikkel, Senior

“If your emotional health is taking a toll, literally do not feel guilty about taking a trip home.” – Julia Mattis, Senior

“Try to stay busy with friends, but take time to stay busy with family as well. Find a group or friends or a club that specifically reminds you of home and dive into it. Find a comfort place. Creating a routine for my free time (i.e. on Monday I read, on Tuesday I cook) helped me a lot.” – Elizabeth Brownell, Senior

“Stay on campus as long as you can during the first semester. It will be tough, but it will make it easier rather than getting in the habit of going home often.” – Sadie Baumann, Senior

“Travel by yourself and get out of the house more before you leave for college.” – Charli McIlrath, Junior

“Spending time with friends can be a good way to get over this. For some, going back home can be hard because of finances or time constraints, so make sure to set up a support system at JBU that can sort of fill in the blanks.” – Pamela Carta, Sophomore

If you’re ever feeling homesick, just remember that it is completely normal. Make sure to keep in contact with your parents and to find fun ways to spend time on campus.