Feeling Homesick? A Guide from the Counseling Center

Good news: these feelings are a normal part of college life, and at Emmanuel, you’re surrounded by a close-knit community of peers, faculty and staff that sticks together and supports each other. 

For some guidelines on managing that homesick feeling and still getting the most of your college experience, check out these tips from Emmanuel’s Counseling Center.

1.) Make yourself at home!

College life may be an adjustment from what you're used to at home – and that’s okay! Throughout the course of your undergraduate journey, you will learn and grow on the Emmanuel campus, so here’s some suggestions about how you can get comfortable in your home away from home.

• Find familiar spaces on campus that are comforting for you! Maybe it’s your favorite study spot cozied up at the Cardinal’s Nest Café, or just hanging out in the Jean Yawkey Center atrium. Wherever it might be, having your favorite spaces to revisit on campus not only makes you feel more at home, but it gets you out and about in the campus community!
• Embrace old and new connections: keep in touch with family and friends who ground you at home, but don’t be afraid to branch out and meet new people too. Attending on-campus events or enquiring about student organizations you’re interested in are great ways to start.

2.) Find your people, find your path

Whether it's academics, athletics, building community or service, there is something for everyone at Emmanuel. Finding your purpose here can help connect you with your peers and set you on your path toward success!

• Dive into campus activities: with over 100 different co-curricular clubs, activities and student orgs on campus – with events happening daily – you never know where you might discover a new interest.

3.) Focus on the here and now

Keep in mind that a semester flies by! Staying organized, mapping out your schedule and planning checkpoints throughout your week can help keep you grounded and prepared for what's ahead.

• Create short-term goals: Plan things to anticipate each week, ranging from something as simple as coffee with a friend or attending a sporting event on campus, to a personal project or part-time job.
• Explore your surroundings: Boston is right on your doorstep! Visit new local parks, restaurants, museums and more to build new memories.

4.) Embrace change with a positive outlook

Change is hard for everyone, but approaching each day and any hurdles along the way with a glass-half-full mentality makes a world of difference.

• Be open to the challenge: College isn’t supposed to be easy, it’s a place where you will learn and grow to become a professional, a change-maker, and your best self. The more you put in, the more you’ll get out of the experience, so go all-in!
• Get comfortable being uncomfortable! College is all about stepping out of your comfort zone, so try and do so whenever you can: say hi to someone you don’t know, get outside and be active, maybe even take a day off from social media!

5.) Count on the Emmanuel community if you need support

At Emmanuel, you are surrounded by peers, faculty and staff that want to see you thrive and succeed. Don’t be afraid to tap into the community, because you are a part of it!

• Learn from your peers: Talk to the Saints all around you, like your Resident Assistants or other peer mentors, about their experience and ask for advice if you need it. Speaking about shared experiences is a great way to make connections with others!
• Use campus resources: if you need someone to talk to, you can always lean on Emmanuel’s Counseling Center for guidance and more tips on navigating the college experience.

Homesickness doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for college – it means you’re human. 

Learn more about the services that Emmanuel’s Counseling Center offers here and how counseling may be able to support your undergraduate journey.