In high school, my biggest motivation for getting through anything was the constant reminder that I would be going far away for college. The thought of leaving everything that I have ever known and getting to immerse myself in a new place was all I had ever wanted. Throughout high school, I was one of those people who constantly said things like “I can’t wait to leave” and “I won’t miss home once I leave here.” I definitely loved high school, but I always imagined college life to be the ultimate peak.

I could never understand why someone would ever get homesick because college seemed like the most amazing place. I had this built up fantasy in my head that college was this magical land with no rules and little responsibilities. Whenever people would come home from college on their breaks and say, “I’m so happy to be home,” I could never comprehend why people would prefer home life over college life. I used to think that being homesick was considered a bad thing. I thought that it meant that people didn’t like their schools or that they didn’t have any friends to keep them distracted. I thought that people who were homesick sat in their dorms all day upset and frustrated that they were so far away from home. But that is far from the truth.

Something that I’ve learned at my first semester at college is that it’s completely normal to be homesick. Being homesick is inevitable your first few months away from home. The word “homesick” has such a negative connotation surrounding it. Just because I’m homesick doesn’t mean that I hate my school. I’m absolutely in love with my school and find myself often walking around campus thinking, “Wow, I can’t believe I go here.” I’ve made some of my best friends in my first semester who I know will be in my life for probably eternity. But, all of that doesn’t stop me from being homesick.

The thing about being homesick is that I often miss the small things. No, I don’t miss having to wake up at 7 a.m. every day to do my hair and makeup before driving off to school, but it’s the things like seeing your one friend after 7th period, or the inside class jokes that I could share with everyone. I miss the way my dog would run up to the door and greet me when I got home from school because now I’m greeted by hours of homework. I’m not saying that college life is all bad, but I truly underestimated how much I would really miss home. I never saw myself in the position of ever feeling homesick and I often find myself afraid to admit it. Something that every senior in high school hears is to “cherish the moment.” I probably heard that a million times my senior year and I really wish that I had taken more advantage of the simplistic life that I had at home.

Being homesick is a natural part of being in a brand new place for some time and I think it’s important for us to boot the stigma that being homesick is bad. Being homesick is healthy and perfectly okay. It’s a part of life that we all have to deal with as part of growing up and it’s something that will truly rearrange our values and outlook on life.