I’m moving into my dorm next week, and I feel sick just thinking about it. I’ve been so sad about leaving, especially since orientation was a mess. I was excited about orientation and when I got there I cried so much because I sad just thinking about leaving my family, and I felt so lost and confused and if I was doing the right thing leaving. I’m only moving 3 hours away and when I tell people how I feel, they all laugh that I’m upset over the distance. But I’m just super close to my family and I’m very family oriented. I just don’t know if I can do it, I almost want to stay and go community, but I don’t want regrets.
Tell yourself that you’re going to give it a good year. Then go get involved, meet people, study hard and evaluate in the spring. Remember that the world is a much smaller place these days. You can call, text and facetime. Just do those things in conjunction with getting involved.
Growing pains.
This is normal. You have to give it a chance. Read this please. http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/2016222-to-those-who-feel-lonely-homesick-friendless-think-they-chose-the-wrong-school-etc-p1.html
- It is normal to have some anxiety. Are you having more anxiety than a typical freshman?
- Have you ever been diagnosed with anxiety? Have you even not done something you wanted to because of anxiety?
- Is anxiety a sort of justification of why you may not want to go to college now?
4,. Colleges know that many freshman have anxiety/homesickness…that is why they have orientation to help you get used to the campus and make new friends. They have Resident Assistants that you can talk to.
- Colleges have Counseling Centers that will help with anxiety...go talk to them.
- You will continue to make memories with your family...at Tgiving, Xmas, Spring Break, Summer, etc. Those memories are even more memorable because they are special. We just went with my DDs to Hawaii last summer...it was very special just having our immediate family together.
- You can communicate/skype/facetime with your family whenever you want.
- You can do this...but if you feel you can't...get help first from the Counseling office. Soon everything won't be new. Right now everything is.
Thank you guys so much. I will definitely give it a go, this has helped me see that I’m not alone. Thank so much again, I really do appreciate it. Ill try to make it a great year.
First of all, ignore anyone who laughs off your concerns.
Of course it’s bittersweet. You’re leaving the only home you’ve ever known to move in with strangers 3 hours away. If you weren’t nervous I would have my doubts about you.
And you can expect some homesickness. There will be moments when you doubt your wisdom in choosing to go away to school.
But you’ll get past those moments. You’ll make friends, you’ll find all your classes, you’ll find foods you love in the dining hall, you’ll find classes you love and professors you can recommend to others.
And in between, there will be phone calls home to mom and dad, and to your high school friends.
You’re not moving OUT. You’re going away to school for a few months at a time. And there will always be a place for you at home.
Bring a few things that will uniquely remind you of home, beyond just pictures. (For my daughter, it includes a Stitch pillow pet she picked up at Disney World, and a mason jar full of sand she stole from the beach last week.)
And @bopper had a great suggestion. If you feel this getting away from you-- if you’re nervous and upset to a point where it’s taking over your thoughts, go to the counseling center. In fact, if you think it will help, check in there during those first few days. This is your first time away, but every single year they deal with lots and lots of freshmen who feel exactly as you do. They’ll have real, practical strategies to help you.
Good luck! Check back in a few weeks and let us know how it’s going, OK?
Counseling centers are neat places - they usually have a place for students just to hang out. At the schools my kids have attended, there have even been snacks set out! My daughter, in particular, has gotten a lot out of college counseling and encourages her friends to take advantage of it. I think it’s a good idea to use it BEFORE you start getting hit with lots of homework and exams.
I agree…in fact if you have some anxiety, your anxiety will make you want to not go to the counseling center because of the anxiety…so I would suggest have your parents go over there with you to check it out so it won’t be so unfamiliar when you do need to go.