<p>So, next week I'll be heading back to college for my sophomore year. I really enjoyed freshman year... I made a lot of friends, joined a sorority, etc. But, no matter how much I enjoyed it while I was actually there, I was still homesick a lot. The problem with this is that my college is only about an hour away from my home, so whenever I got homesick I would just go home. I ended up going home A LOT last year -- probably almost every weekend and sometimes during the week, too. I feel like if I didn't go home so much then the feelings of homesickness would have eventually diminished and I would have been fine. I don't want to miss out on anything this year, so does anyone have any advice on how I can keep myself from going home so much? And do you think this will actually work... meaning if I stay at school will I eventually be okay? Thanks for your help everyone!</p>
<p>It makes it harder to not miss home and family when you see them. I remember how when I'd go to summer camp, our parents could visit on certain days. I'd be all happy and then after seeing them, I'd get really homesick. </p>
<p>You could just try to get really involved and have obligations during the weekend so you won't be tempted to go home. You could also try calling them instead of driving. You'd think that gas prices would discourage you from making those trips all the time.</p>
<p>Yeah, hopefully I'll have obligations on weekends. But even last year when I did (usually sorority things) I would find a way to get out of them, often making up excuses if I had to :/ Anyone else with helpful advice or who has been like this before?</p>
<p>I think you need to make a commitment to your school, your sorority and other things at your campus. It sounds like you have one foot in school and the other at home. It is hard to embrace college if you are always making your escape. I would make it your business to stick around and get involved. Go to your sorority functions, study in the library, use the gym, go to parties and school functions....be a part of your school community and your feelings about school will probably change. There is nothing wrong with being homesick but going home all the time only prolongs your adjustment to being away. When you feel homesick, try and connect with friends on campus or do things you enjoy there. Maybe volunteer for an organization that adds to the school, like fundraising, tutoring, the TV or radio station, entertainment committee or anything that interests you. Give yourself the chance to feel a connection to your college life.</p>
<p>yeah, im already homesick too. i had fun frosh year and made some awesome friends but theres still nothing that compares to what i have here. im sad to leave my friends, my house, and my dog. </p>
<p>to make it better im going to work harder to squeeze ever opprotunity out of school. time passes faster when youre having fun anyway. so get involved, expand your circle of friends, and enjoy college! home will be there forever, college is over in 3 more years</p>
<p>I'm surprised that your sorority let you out of things. Mine was pretty strict and it was not always easy trying to get out weekend commitments. GET INVOLVED with it. I can't tell you how important it is that you need to work with your sorority. You'll need to stay in the loop of the chapter in order to prepare for the recruitment. Good recruitment requires strong chemistry between sorority sisters in order to show potential new members that it's the place to be because everyone goes with the flow.</p>
<p>I lived two hours away and it was pretty easy to see my family. If it wasn't for them visiting me for the games, I probably would've wanted to go home. Try to get your family to come for a couple hours. You don't really need 24-48 hours, do you? Also the cost of traveling impeding your studies and social time... Definitely get involved, make plans with friends for a Saturday night dinner and movies, etc. When I think about how much time it takes for me to go back and forth, I say, "forget it, not worth it."</p>
<p>Yeah, I mean I'm close with a lot of my sorority sisters because we would hang out all week and go out at night, etc. They always hated it when I would go home. You're right about recruitment -- that's stuff that I absolutely cannot skip out on. For the first few weekends of school I have important obligations so I won't be able to go home, and I think after the first two weeks I'll be fine. Plus, my mom has season tickets for the football games so I'll be able to see her for a little bit on gamedays. Thanks for the advice everyone, it's helping a lot so far!</p>
<p>And, yes, you really really are making it harder on yourself by visiting as often. Try to slowly cut down on your visits (go from ever weekend to every other, then once a month, etc). Once you stop visiting every weekend, you'll feel a lot less homesick.</p>
<p>Just think of international students like us who travel from the other side of the world and have financial obligations to go back home frequently.</p>