Step 1: You've Got This!

Hi there! My name is Caitlin Sullivan and I am almost a month into my senior year at Longwood University. For those of you who may not know, Longwood is a small public liberal arts university located in a small town in central Virginia, better known as Farmville. Though it may be small, when I first arrived on campus my freshman year, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Coming from a small private school in Portsmouth, Virginia, and from a family whose parents never lived on a college campus, I felt like I had never really been given the proper preparation I needed for college.

However, over the years I have learned a thing or two and have picked up a lot of valuable tips and tricks that have helped me to survive the past three years. Which is exactly what brings me here. I thought to myself, I cannot be the only one who comes to college completely unaware of what to expect. So, why not share what I have learned with those who need it most? This blog will be all about giving YOU the advice I needed when I first came to college, so you will not have to worry over the little things I had to worry about my freshman year.

I also thought it would be best to kick off this blog by giving you my thoughts and solutions on one of the biggest struggles I faced when first getting to college.

Getting homesick.

This is an issue I never really thought I would have struggled with. As someone who considers themselves very independent and loves doing stuff on their own, I thought living away from home for the first time ever would be a breeze, but boy was I wrong. About a week into freshman year it started to hit me. I missed my friends and family and I was constantly calling my mom asking if I could go home. Eventually this behavior began to have a negative effect on my freshman year. It was preventing me from meeting new people and making the most out of my college experience. Luckily, I did eventually realize this and knew I needed to make a change.

Here are some of the most valuable things I learned that helped me to feel a little less homesick and made Longwood my second home:

1. DON’T GO HOME- This one was the hardest for me but forcing myself to stay at school is what truly helped me to get over my homesickness. While it was not easy at times, it was what helped me to make some of the best memories and friendships that I still hold dear to my heart today.

2. Keep yourself busy- Another important one and a great way to take your mind off things. Go to the gym, plan a study date with a classmate, or just make dinner plans with your roommates, anything is better than sitting in your dorm room alone! For more ideas, read up on this article on ways to stay busy at college.

3. Give yourself time- Getting homesick is normal and something everyone deals with every once and a while. Moving to college is a huge adjustment and its okay to not feel comfortable right away. Take it easy on yourself, be patient, and just know that it gets easier!

From freshman year with my mom...

...to senior year with my roommate!

I hoped this helped! For more advice check out this other article that deals with coping with homesickness. Next week I will be covering surviving college during a pandemic, so make sure to check it out!