Homesickness is especially common in college, and can affect anyone regardless of how geographically far away they are from home. Sometimes you might not feel like you fit in at college, and sometimes you might just miss home-cooked meals. These are common feelings, and can be alleviated by doing one or more of the following:
1. Get used to the campus! Many people feel homesick because they are uncomfortable with unfamiliar surroundings. You’ll feel more at ease if you explore class buildings, find a favorite study spot, or take walks around campus. Make your space your own; decorate your room in a way that makes you feel at home. Once you connect with your surroundings, you’ll be able to appreciate where you are.
2. Get involved with orgs and friends on campus! Go to org fairs at the beginning of the semester, and try to approach the leaders of clubs that interest you. Don’t feel pressured to join too many; you want to be able to relax in your spare time as well. Since the org fair has already happened, you can look up clubs that interest you on Life@ Babson (now “engage.babson.edu”) or talk with friends and classmates about clubs that they’re involved in.
3. Stay connected with people from home! It’s important to familiarize yourself with your surroundings at college, but it’s also important to maintain connections with your family and friends from home. It’s good to call your family a few times a week, or when you need support, but you don’t want to become too dependent on their presence. Homesickness can be helped by making new friends, so be sure your relationships at home aren’t getting in the way of meeting new people.
4. If the homesickness persists, feel free to visit the Wellness Center in Park Manor South Annex. The Wellness Center provides 8 pre-paid confidential counseling sessions to all full-time students. counselingservices@babson.edu, 781-239-6200.
