
No matter how much you might be looking forward to it in theory, leaving home is always a bit hard. The chance to make new friends, have new experiences and be more independent is really exciting, but it’s also OK to be feeling scared, homesick or lonely.
Leaving the familiar behind is tough for anyone, but it’s amazing how you can adapt to new surroundings with a bit of time.
Becoming involved in activities on campus can help you to make friends and settle in.
You’re not alone if you experience any of these feelings. It’s likely that other people who have just moved away for the first time are going through the same thing. You might find it helps to talk to other people about how they’re feeling, or speak to some older students about their experiences of moving away from home to study.
Moving away from home and starting at college is a big move. It’s important to allow yourself time to get used to the change. Try to take one day at a time. It’s likely that life will start to get easier as you become more familiar with the routine away from home and start to make new friends..
A good way to make new friends is to become involved in activities that interest you. This way you are meeting people you have things in common with. Most colleges organise activities such as sport, parties, or formal dinners. These activities are often a great way to meet new people and have fun at the same time.
Many colleges organise Freshers’ Week activities to introduce new students to college life and provide opportunities to meet new people. Often times Freshers’ Week activities are organised by older students from the college, which gives you a chance to learn from their experiences of moving away from home and ask them any questions you may have..
Making your space your own can help you to bring a bit of home to campus life. Posters, your favourite duvet cover, books, posters, and photos may help to make your space more like home.