<p>I've asked some questions on here recently, but in case you haven't seen them, here's some context: I'm a freshman at a large state school 6 hours from home. I have friends here, but my closest friend is transferring, and there are only a couple who I really feel close enough with to initiate plans. I'm starting to be concerned that in these last weeks of school, I really need to work on at least getting to a level with people where I'll be comfortable texting them to hang out again next year (right now I'm in a dorm so I run into people a lot but next year I'll be off-campus).</p>
<p>I've been planning that halfway through these last 8 weeks after spring break, I'll go home for a 3-night weekend. However, now I'm torn. On one hand, I'm worried that I'll miss out on opportunities to socialize at school, plus only one of my friends will be home when I am. On the other hand, I feel like a few days away from school will be good and will be just enough to keep me going through the semester.</p>
<p>I know this is kind of a silly thing to ask on here, but when I asked my mom she just kept saying "It's up to you." What do you think... would it be a bad idea to miss a weekend or should I do it?</p>
<p>It’s three days. Sure, you might miss “something”, but really…don’t you always miss something when you pick an activity over another one? Go home if you want to. Make the best of it. </p>
<p>I go home quite a lot and I enjoy the time I spend there. When I come back, I jump right back into the scheme of things. I miss things, but when it comes down to it I don’t care that I missed something. It’s so minuscule in all the weekends that you spend on campus. Do what you want, when you want, and own that decision.</p>
<p>Going home won’t matter in terms of your social life. I wouldn’t do it just because it’s not worth the 6 hour travel time for a weekend, but if you want to, feel free.</p>
<p>The going home or not to go home thing for 3 days is really not that much of a deal breaker for making great friends. What I would rather question is your motive for moving off-campus, if your goal is to make " great friends" in college next year. I would think off campus might isolate you a little bit more from the 24hrs campus activities and friendship that you can build why living on campus. Even during breaks, there are usually International students on campus that you can plan creative - fun activities with…i.e. if you are staying on campus.
Just my humble opinion.</p>
<p>Three days is nothing. I used to go home a fair amount when I was at school. It was a little over an hour away. But when I stayed on campus, I never seemed to be at a loss for things to do and had varied friends even though I am somewhat of a lone wolf.</p>
<p>You could miss something if you go home for a weekend that is true. You said that you need to get closer with people then that’s what you need to do. How I did it back then was I would force myself to be sociable so I get to meet more people and eventually after going to so many things and “forcing” myself to include people or include myself I eventually found a bunch of people that I can hang out with. It was hard for me at first but it teaches valuable people skills. I also joined a fraternity where I met a ton of people. </p>
<p>I’m going to encourage you to stay on campus - </p>
<p>@Sticktonoodles seems to relate to your situation and has very good advice. </p>
<p>Personally as a parent I have supported my own kids’ desire to move far away, mostly because I think part of the college experience is the friendships you form with new people, and the competence you gain from learning how to manage daily life without help from parents. </p>
<p>Take a risk and trust your intuition that you need to stay and work on making more connections to kids at your school. Maybe you could even be the instigator! Why don’t you come up with a couple of ideas for others to join you in a local adventure of some kind? Post on Facebook and see who shows up! </p>
<p>OR, have a classmate come home with YOU (with your family’s consent)–or do something with your new friends–camp, hike, go somewhere, use your imagination…</p>