Feeling Homesick? Tips to Help Students Cope
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 20, 2021) — Wildcats, you have returned to campus and are embracing the Fall 2021 semester after more than a year of unprecedented challenges.
But with that newfound freedom may come feelings of homesickness.
The transition to college can be emotionally challenging as life away from the familiar becomes reality. Now, add the stressors that accompany an ongoing public health crisis.
Mental health and wellness remain a priority at the University of Kentucky. To help you adjust during the fall semester, UKNow enlisted the help of the Office for Student Success.
First, recognize that feeling homesick is normal and temporary. For students who are missing home, here are five suggestions for how you can create your own sense of family on campus:
- Join the Let’s Talk Drop-In Series hosted by the UK Counseling Center.
- Explore TogetherAll — an online peer-to-peer community that is accessible 24/7. The service covers a range of topics, including homesickness.
- If you live in a residence hall, have a conversation with your resident advisor (RA) — they are there to offer help.
- Get involved! Find opportunities to connect with other students through Student Organizations and Activities.
- Take advantage of Campus Recreation programs and services.
And don't forget about many of the other Student Success units here to support you:
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.