My love for Naz has grown in the three years that I’ve been here but I’d be crazy if I didn’t admit that I was homesick at times! I’ve always been very proud to say I’m from Buffalo and even more proud that I grew up in the little town of East Aurora. What really makes it so special are the memories that my mom and I have made there. The weekends I couldn’t visit home or even some of the nights that I just wanted to feel a little bit closer to the way things used to be, I had some routines to help cure my homesickness.
- If my friends and I were bored in our dorms, needing some nostalgia, we would go to the movies! My mom and I love going to the movies, so it still made me feel close to her but also helped me make memories with new people! Getting a big bowl of popcorn and cozying up for a little bit can help take your mind off of the sad parts of your homesickness.
- I would try to eat a nice dinner. Something about a nice warm meal, cooked for you, can help cheer you up. I personally love to cook but what makes me feel better is when people cook for me! I would go to dinner with a friend and get my favorite thing off of the menu.
- Try sending a nice text to someone you love! There’s nothing worse than lying in your dorm room sad about all the people you miss back at home. Instead of letting your mind fill up with the thoughts of feeling alone or becoming overwhelmed, just reach out to those people you miss. Whether it’s facetiming a family member or sending a random but kind text to a friend, it’ll help make you feel better because you’re telling someone how much they mean to you!
- Even though you might be sad and want to sulk, I highly suggest taking up any opportunity you’re presented with to take your mind off your homesickness! Maybe there were days I didn’t feel like entertaining a conversation because all I could think about was home, but when I did talk to someone, it helped take my mind off things. I would meet new people from going to different places with different friends. I still wanted to have time for me to go home and see my family on the weekends but it didn’t stop me from getting a job and joining a club to keep myself busy.
- Always check for on campus events. I vividly remember one evening I was really upset because I had just found out I couldn’t go home for the weekend. I was sitting alone in my dorm, looking at the events that Naz was offering that night and I saw Insomnia cookies! I took a leap of faith and went to the event by myself but had such a nice time. I got a warm delicious cookie and it helped make my night better.
- What always made me feel better was knowing that I was not alone and a lot of other college students got homesick. I used to beat myself up over being sad in my dorm when all my suitemates would be going to events or acting like they were having the time of their lives. That was not the case. Almost all of us admitted to each other that there were times we had to put on a brave face and try to console ourselves, pretending we were having fun! The homesickness feelings will fade at one point, I promise. You’ll start to feel like Naz is a second home.
