Pain – Homesickness
After you have gotten through all the excitement of the first few weeks of school and are fully immersed in your new routine, you will likely miss being home. You’ll miss your friends, family, pets, and how your old life used to be. It’s almost like you went on a solo vacation, and you’re ready to go home, but you can’t just leave and go back home because now you don’t live there. This can bring on feelings of depression and anxiety, especially if you haven’t made any friends yet. Allow yourself time to adjust to your new life away from home, and remember: home isn’t going anywhere. Your friends and family are just a phone call or facetime away. Missing home will just make your eventual return so much better and more enjoyable.
Gain – Meet new people
Unless you know people who plan on going to the same school as you, you will be meeting so many new people when you move to go to school. It may be scary at first, but make an effort to make friends and be open to connections. You will be meeting many people from different backgrounds, and this is an opportunity to learn from them and grow as a person. You are no longer limited to the friends you had in high school, and you don’t even have to be the same person you were when you were in high school. This is a chance to be authentic with others and find your true friends.
Pain – Adjusting to change
Change can be hard to stomach, and during this transition, many things are about to change very quickly. You will be placed in a new environment that is totally different from what you are used to, and at times, it can be overwhelming. This is why it is crucial to establish a routine for yourself to make that adjustment just a little easier. You may feel lost, sad, and overwhelmed at times, and if it all becomes too much, you can decide for yourself if going to school is the best path for you. Just know that everyone around you is going through the same thing. If you need someone to talk with to help you through this transition, consider signing up for the Rivers to Success mentorship program. We can help you find someone to talk to who’s been exactly where you are.
Gain – Opportunities
Going away for school can give you so many opportunities that you may not have experienced had you chosen not to go. You get to explore a new place and meet new people, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Not only will new opportunities and experiences broaden your horizons, but they will deepen your understanding of the world outside your hometown. There is so much more to experience than the same place you have been throughout your childhood.
Pain – Cost of Living
Not only will you be living on your own, but now you have to pay to do so. You have to buy your own groceries, utensils, toiletries, laundry detergent, and all the little things you might not have had to buy when you lived at home. All those little things add up pretty quickly, and you will probably be spending hundreds of dollars a month, in addition to rent, on things you need to live. Indspire can help you alleviate those costs with the Building Brighter Futures Scholarships and Bursaries. Don’t forget to apply here! Deadlines are August 1, November 1, and February 1.
Gain – Fresh start
Going to not only a new school but possibly a new city is an excellent way to create a fresh start. This is a perfect opportunity to venture out and discover who you are outside your old hometown, friends, and family. You can be whoever you want.
Pain – Support
Leaving behind your support system can be challenging, whether it was your friends, family, pets, etc. You may need to find new ways to get the support you need. Most post-secondary institutions offer resources to help support students in their transition and beyond. Make sure to look into programs and resources provided by your institution or join us here with our new and improved Rivers to Success program, where we offer resources, events, and opportunities to connect with people looking to support you wherever you are on your journey. Don’t forget, you don’t need to abandon your old support system altogether. They’re just a call or text away!
Gain – Focus
It is much easier to focus on your studies when you are surrounded by other people who are focused. Everyone you will be surrounded by is there doing the same thing you are: studying. Not to mention, you will be less distracted by things at home. Whether you like to learn alone or form a friend/study group, finding places around campus where you can be focused is much easier than perhaps the environment you had at home.
