How to cope away from home

Your first weeks at university are always going to be the toughest

After all those years of being supported by your parents and building up childhood friendships, living away from home will seem like a whole new world. University is a one way road to independence, and how happy you’ll be depends on how you adapt to this new environment.

You may feel a little uncomfortable with the prospect of meeting people and fitting in. New friends, new city… with all this change your emotions will be running wild with nerves and excitement. But the fact is, you aren’t the only one starting out on a new adventure, there will be many more students just like yourself who are also finding the experience a little bit daunting. Here is some advice on how to cope during those overwhelming first few weeks.

Pack something sentimental from home

It may not be cool, but having something sentimental, such as a scruffy old teddy you’ve had since you were little, is very reassuring. Whether you take your boyfriend’s ten times too big hoody, or some family holiday pics, it is nice to have a little bit of home with you.

There’s nothing stopping you from personalising your new room either, so take advantage and decorate the place with pictures and items that mean something to you. Your environment will have an effect on your mood, and so a basic, lackluster room will never lift your spirits.

Socialising

First of all, be sure to go out for Freshers’ Week. Many students will be eager to party for a whole week, whereas others may not consider it a necessity. In fact, there are many positives about Freshers’ Week, because these frantic seven days offer the opportunity to meet many new people. This in turn will help you cope further on in the term as you will recognise familiar faces and develop new friendships.

Once you then start your studies, probably the best way to take your mind off home is to go out and have some fun! Go to the cinema, a local bar, or to karaoke at the Student Union, anywhere possible to get yourself out there.

Clubs and Societies

Everybody gets a little bit homesick sometimes, so ensure to keep busy. Universities have something to suit everyone, and offer countless groups where you can meet people, travel abroad, and raise money for charity. Examples include; sporting clubs such as athletics, canoeing and mountaineering and societies ranging from photography groups to environmental campaigns. By doing something which makes you happy you will soon forget about your homesickness.

Keep in touch

Just because you’ve left home it doesn’t mean your family is unreachable. E-mail regularly and phone every now and then to fill them in on your goings-on. It’s important not to become dependent on them, so visit when you need to, but preferably wait until the first term is over to give yourself a chance to settle in.

Cooking

For many, the dreaded thought that you may actually have to pick up a saucepan or use an oven, seems impossible. University graduates are not lying when they say they lived on frozen meals and pot noodles for much of their uni life. You don’t have to be Jamie Oliver to eat real food though, because some meals are easier than you think.

For example, pasta: all you need is boiling water, a pan, ten minutes of cooking time, and a sauce of your choice. Chuck in some vegetables every now and again to get some vitamins in your diet.

Cooking will also save you money on the supermarket bill. For a little bit of inspiration, fetch as many meal leaflets as possible from local supermarket and get some cookery practice before uni. This way you won’t starve.

Finally, stick at it!

Starting university might not be simple, and it can take some time to get used to the circumstances. But as time goes on, you are sure to feel more comfortable, so don’t give up! University can be one of the most valuable experiences of your life, just relax, chat, and have fun.

by April Pickersgill

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