Leave the Waterworks and make Elmhurst University your home away from home

Graphic by- Abbey Mark

Being away from home is the hardest adjustment one can make when going to college. While living on campus, at times homesickness may not be very far away. 

Despite Elmhurst University being a small campus, it may feel like you are a little fish in a big new pond, having to leave everything you once knew behind. 

Entering the Waterworks may be a new feeling for you, and at times you may feel helpless and stuck, wishing that you could just move back home. 

College will be one of your first steps into adulthood, and your expectations may not meet reality.  

Take it from us, two individuals who basically live on campus, sometimes we find ourselves missing our safe place back home. However, here are our best tips to help combat homesickness. 

Use technology to your advantage

You have the world at your hands, it’s time to utilize it. There is never a moment in the day where you are too busy to text or call those you love back home.

College may be a stepping stone to being an independent adult, but your family is still only one call away. Sometimes, just hearing their voices can soothe your anxiety.

Being able to video call is even better, seeing their face can be the best way to alleviate homesickness. Planning can add to unneeded anxiety, so we encourage a random FaceTime call over anything else. Be spontaneous.

Get involved on campus

It is essential to find your campus family, and the easiest way to get to know people is by getting involved. 

EU has a wide variety of clubs and activities that can help you find your Bluejay family. Do not hide away in the library or your dorm, venture out and find something new. 

Getting involved will help you to create meaningful connections and turn this campus into a home away from home. Becoming comfortable in the space that you are in will help you in your college experience.

Live, laugh, love

Yes, college is nerve-racking, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Make the most of it. 

Do not let the sadness of being away from home ruin your time. Use this time to reinvent yourself, explore, love, and be fearless.

There will be ups and downs during your college journey, but one of the best experiences is developing your own sense of individuality. Do not be afraid to do crazy things and live carefree.  

If these tips provided you with any help, let us leave you with a piece of advice that has gotten us through our hardest times here at EU.

At the end of the day, everything happens for a reason. The experiences that you face will only help you grow as a person and turn you into a beautiful new being. While there may be hardships, they will help you blossom. 

Looking back, it makes us laugh at how foolish we were to miss home as much as we did. Being away only strengthened our connections to our families, and made us cherish our time back home even more. 

You will survive, even if you shed a tear or two at times. College is something that you will only experience once, so make the most of it and do not let homesickness take over and taint it. 

Stay strong Bluejays, it is now your time to fly out of the nest. Now go and soar to new and exciting heights.