Being far from home
I think there is no better example of how homesickness truly feels than SpongeBob Square Pants Sandy Cheek’s smash hit “Texas (I Wanna Go Home)”. There is something about that melodic southern accent and the gripping lyricism that really hits home. Sandy was going through homesickness and thankfully she was able to express it through music, but not all of us have that same outlet.
Moving from home can be tough especially when you come from a great place, had a solid support system and knew a lot of people. I remember my freshman year, I moved from the beautiful state of Arizona to the cold plains of South Dakota. South Dakota is a state I’m familiar with and have been to many times because my family is from there, but I was a freshman in college and was nowhere near family.
Transitions can be tough and certain advice I received helped me through the discomfort of being a new college student living in a new place:
- Get familiar with the city you’re in
Explore parks, museums, landmarks, national parks, etc in your new area. Try local coffee shops and restaurants to find favorite entrees and beverages. Look for events that you think would be fun, invite a friend to join you, or go by yourself. You might be surprised by how much fun you can have at an event that you attend on your own. Some of the new places you visit or events you attend might be super lame and not fun at all, but that is part of the fun of exploring a new place. It is trial and error, but you get to discover the things you like and don’t like. - Stay busy
My freshman year I had an on campus job and an internship with the local D-League basketball time. I made money, learned how to manage my time, and obtained good experience for my career moving forward. This may look different for you, but this is the perfect time to try things and gain as much experience as possible! Plus, you’ll have some responsibility and pride in the things you are working on and that is always good. - Join clubs and student organizations
There are so many people out there that are equally as interested in the things you are interested in. Try something new too! You’ll never know how much you enjoy fencing until you try it through the fencing club. - Recognize other students want to meet you
Realize that if you are trying to make friends, there are other people that are trying to do the same! Thankfully, I had someone point this out to me early in my freshman year. As soon as you realize that the people you go to school with partially came to this school to meet new and interesting people, then you can start to say, “Hey! I’m a new and interesting person” or at least new and interesting enough to that person!
Mason Ford, Sports Law and Business, MSLB ‘21, ASU Counseling Services management intern, Devils 4 Devils ASU student organization president