Preventing Homesickness
By: Nicola Miller, Center for Cura Personalis
Homesickness in the first few weeks of college is not uncommon, especially after the excitement of moving in and orientation wear off. When students get into their day-to-day routines, they often have more time to think about the people and things they miss from home. There are steps you can take now that will give your student more ownership in the college experience and reduce homesickness.
1. Let your student make the majority of decisions regarding college. Rather than filling out forms and making appointments for your student, make him/her do it. Oftentimes when parents complete tasks for students, both parents and students alike see it as a convenient thing to do. The challenge occurs when parents are back at home and students are on campus trying to answer questions about forms they never saw. Sometimes the answers parents may fill in are very different than what students would have filled out. This leads to problems when students are assigned roommates, for example, based on the parent’s preferences rather than their own. Have your student fill out any forms and make their own appointments with campus resources. This is a great first opportunity for students to show the adult-like responsibility that college requires. There will be a lot of opportunities for practice over the next four years!
2. Use reflective questioning to encourage problem solving. The rise of technology has led to constant communication between parents and students. While this may feel good, it may also hinder a student’s ability to critically think and solve problems on their own. Students need to learn how to work through difficult situations. If your student calls to ask for your help, consider turning the question back on the student rather than swooping in to fix things. For example, using reflective questions such as, “What do you think you should do about this?” or “What have other people done to handle a similar situation?” are great ways to improve your student’s critical thinking skills.
3. Talk about transitions. Now is a great time to think about how your student has handled transitions in the past. For those students who seamlessly handle change and transition, this may not be an issue. For those who struggle with change, now is a great time to talk about what things your student can do to make this change easier. Helping your student identify things that have worked to make change easier in the past is a great way to make this impending change go more smoothly.
4. Get Involved! Gonzaga has many great opportunities for students to get involved. Your student’s Resident Assistant will be offering floor/hall activities throughout the semester and students can join one of over 100 active and recognized student clubs that cover a wide range of interests. Students can also get involved in intramural sports, organized outdoor adventures or peer education, just to name a few opportunities. To learn more, tell your student to visit the Student Involvement and Leadership office on the second floor of Crosby.
These simple actions can help prepare your student for the many adventures and challenges that Gonzaga will hold over the next four years. More so, responsibly engaging in these activities now will promote decision making and critical thinking that are vital in the next four years and beyond.