THE PROCESS

Homesickness is a real thing, especially for anyone jumping into something extremely new (like college). That was the one thing that made my transition into college the hardest for me. Growing up my parents had been really great with letting us do what we wanted. They always tried to make us feel like they didn't need to dictate everything we did. They trusted us to be smart, and they still do. So when it came time to leave the nest they were great about it! Always talking about the positives in leaving and what great things I'll be able to do on my own. But when you're alone in your dorm room with nothing to do, your mind starts to think about everything at home. Your parents, your bedroom, the way your dad smells like aftershave when you hug him, how yummy your mom's cooking is. It's the hardest part of college. But don't worry there are ways to overcome it.

For me it's busy work, always have something to do when you have free time, even if that means sleeping. Sleep is so important in college if you don't get sleep, your whole day is 10x harder on you. Something else that helped me was the friends I came to college with. At the beginning they were all I had and they still are. In college your friends form a net for you, people you can always fall onto when you are struggling. Luckily these friends I came up to Utah State with have been with me since high school. We already had that strong relationships that had that needed net.

Another way that I was able to cope with the transition into college was seeing the happiness in every day. Instead of staying in bed wishing I could be home I went out with my friends and tried to make my day a happier one. For me, I made videos every week of the first month I was there. As me and my friends explored Logan I video taped the little happy moments we experienced. This made it easier to see the good in every day, and helped me see that Logan wasn't all that bad.

Here's just an taste of what my videos were like in the beginning:

There are always going to be hard times, you just have to figure out how to make it through them. Sooner than later the hardships of college emotions will lighten up. You'll be able to go out, have fun and call mom and dad later and feel less and less homesick. It's a hard process but it's doable.