<p>i'm starting my second semester of my freshman year and i thought that when i came back that i would be really excited. being home for christmas made me really homesick and i'm now realizing how much i hate being at college and how much i miss my family and friends at home. i went home every two to three weekends last semester because i've always had separation anxiety. i live about 2-3 hours away from home and i usually take a shuttle/bus. i'm really close with my family and i've never been away from them for extended periods of time (i never went to summer camp or anything) so it's been really difficult for me.
my grades are fine and i'm not having any problems going to class and doing homework but i'm having a really hard time making friends. i've made one friend and he's cool but he's a drug dealer. smoking weed doesn't bother me but every time we hang out he wants to get stoned or do shrooms; that makes me uncomfortable because i don't want to get in any trouble if he gets busted and i'm with him.
i just declared my major in electronic media and film so this semester i'm taking classes for my major and this semester i'm hoping that i will meet some cool people with the same interests in my classes.
there's a college that's close to home that i'm thinking about transferring to next year but i really like the college i'm at right now. i'm not sure if i'll transfer and i'll regret it or if i'll stay and be miserable.</p>
<p>did you guys have a tough time your freshman year? was your sophmore year way better? is that normal to have separation anxiety? how often did you guys go home your freshman year?</p>
<p>If you’re that close to your family it’s perfectly normal to have some kind of separation anxiety. But it’s important that you try to get over it. Going home every 2-3 weeks is much more than other people get, and you never know where your career might take you later in life. You might have to move even farther away. Try to stick it out, find some friends who are in a similar situation. Maybe you can help each other. 2-3 hours is really nothing in comparison to other people. </p>
<p>I guess I’m not really the right person to give you advice on this. I have never had those kind of problems. My mom went back to work when I was just a few months old so I was used to separation. And I moved to Germany 12 years ago with my family, but still have lots of relatives in the States, so it’s been perfectly normal for me almost all my life to be far away from my loved ones.</p>
<p>Cheetos - Hang in there! Associate with people like you - NOT drug dealers! Hang out in the gym or if you have a gaming room. Go to the library Volunteer in the community. Join some campus organizations. Get involved! It sounds like you’re in the right place for you wnat to do and you like the school. A couple of hours aint nothin’! You’re getting home sick because you are bored. Go do something! My daughter is a freshman and has joined a swing dance club, a rock climbing club, campus ministry and works in the law library. She is also not very outgoing. (I have always referred to her as a closet extrovert). She has made MANY friends. Why? Because she is INVOLVED! </p>
<p>hi cheetos, i’m a freshman like you and i’m suffering from homesickness as well. i do have a few friends, but i’m not overly close with them. my school’s about 2 hours away from my house and i go home every 2 to 3 weeks too, but that’s what a lot of people here do. my school’s sort of a suitcase school. i’m also looking to transfer, but i’m afraid i’ll regret transferring. from what i’ve read here, we’re suffering from second semester blues, which a lot of people suffer from after winter break. i know i couldn’t give you an upperclassman’s reassurance that life gets better, but just know there are other people going through the same thing as you!</p>
<p>thanks for the responses you guys!
-pav, thanks for the advice, sometimes i forget that there are plenty of clubs and organizations out there.
-ka2010, it’s nice to know that i’m not the only one that goes home and that i’m not alone in my freshman struggle. i think i will regret it if i transfer too but i don’t want next year to be as miserable as this one…</p>
<p>Cheetos and KA - During these four years you will have opportunities to do things that you may likely never have again. You don’t want to be sitting in your office one day while your kid is off at school wishing that you would have taken advantage of some of those opportunities!</p>
<p>Very true PAV. Thanks for your insight. I am going to try and get more involved this semester and hopefully I will find a few things to occupy my time.</p>