It is that time of the year. Classes have started to pick up their pace and the stress is becoming real. The tension in classes is becoming palpable. Reality has finally struck.

As much fun as the beginning of the school year can be, it becomes hard to face the fact that classes really are the priority.  Everything else comes after academics.     

That is exactly why this time of the year is when I miss home the most.

Many people probably feel the same way. It is completely normal. The constant stress, nerves, and never-ending work can really take a toll on an student’s mentality and sanity.  Many times, students start to become homesick. I know whenever I become stressed with work, the first thought that pops into my mind is, “I need to be home.”

Home is where the heart is. Home is where most people feel the most comfortable. It is no wonder that around exam time (and just heightened school work in general), students start to experience that pinge of homesickness. 

I cannot help but think, “Where are my red ruby slippers when I need them? Why can’t I just click them three times and magically appear home?” I wish something like that existed. 

The truth is: it is all a part of life. Experiencing homesickness is a part of growing up and becoming a real adult. Homesickness is just the transition from dependence on comfort zones to independence in the real world. 

Think about it. In a few years, most students won’t even be living near their home. They will be an active participant in real-world life, living in a new home that is newly formed by them. Homesickness will just be a fleeting memory of college. 

In all actuality, homesickness is a lot like the puberty stage that teenagers experience. It is the puberty of college students. Homesickness is a short period of time in a person’s life when they ultimately miss home and their old lifestyle. 

Throughout the homesickness stage, individuals begin to develop mechanisms to overcome this feeling and to adapt to their new surroundings. Much like puberty, once a student overcomes the feeling of missing home, they have evolved into a new person.  They have a new outlook on life and have ultimately changed their attitude on where they belong. 

So, in the meantime, as we all pass through this “puberty stage” together, what is the remedy? 

Simple. Pick up the phone and call home, whether that be your parents, your grandparents, your siblings, or even your best friends. Don’t be afraid to reach out. Hearing a voice from home can really make all the difference. 

Schedule trips to go home every now and again. Just being able to look forward to going
home, whether that be for holidays or just to visit, is a strong motivational force that upholds a positive outlook for many students. 

Even better, maybe even have family and friends come visit you at school! This will bring a little piece of your old home to your new home. 

Ultimately, it is important to realize that this stage we are all experiencing, called homesickness, is temporary. Eventually, we are all going to overcome this period in our lives and will be able to click our shoes and enter our new home in the future, as independent, educated, and strong individuals.