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:
The University of Kentucky is increasingly the first choice for students, faculty and staff to pursue their passions and their professional goals. In the last two years, Forbes has named UK among the best employers for diversity, and INSIGHT into Diversity recognized us as a Diversity Champion four years running. UK is ranked among the top 30 campuses in the nation for LGBTQ* inclusion and safety. UK has been judged a “Great College to Work for" three years in a row, and UK is among only 22 universities in the country on Forbes' list of "America's Best Employers." We are ranked among the top 10 percent of public institutions for research expenditures — a tangible symbol of our breadth and depth as a university focused on discovery that changes lives and communities. And our patients know and appreciate the fact that UK HealthCare has been named the state’s top hospital for five straight years. Accolades and honors are great. But they are more important for what they represent: the idea that creating a community of belonging and commitment to excellence is how we honor our mission to be not simply the University of Kentucky, but the University for Kentucky.