Distance doesn’t need to mean an end to friendships, but don’t forget you’re surrounded by new people.

The Ubyssey (University of British Columbia)

VANCOUVER (CUP) — University can be a big, scary place for students who have travelled far from home. Some first-years might savour their newfound freedom, but many wallow in homesickness for months.

Realize that you’re entering a new chapter of your life, and no matter how much you love your high school friends, growing apart is not necessarily a bad thing.

UBC student Urooba Jamal says she and her high school friends “make time to see each other from time to time but we also realize that we’re starting to get different interests and we’re not necessarily the same people we were in high school.”

So don’t eat dinner alone in your single room or lie in bed creeping people from home on Facebook. It’s easy and temporarily comforting, but it won’t make things better.

Instead, focus on getting out there. Attend school events. Introduce yourself to people in classes. Take walks around campus. Join clubs. You can and should make time to Skype with your family and friends, but make sure you try to meet people in your new environment as well.

Talk to people in class. Most people are just as lonely and nervous as you. Even if you don’t become best friends, you’ve found someone to exchange notes with if you miss class.

Join a club or sports league. It’s a great way to meet people who share your interests. The more involved you are, the more you’ll get out of university. Don’t let homesickness consume your life.

“It’s really tough to start with,” says Ontario native Kate Burtinsky. “It will take some adjustment, but you will make friends. And you will get used to it.”

—
Photo: Jeff Aschkinasi/The Ubyssey