How to Manage Moving Away From Home

by
Tessa Aldridge

A year ago, I was moving to the city for the first time. I was overjoyed by the freedom and independence that came with packing up my belongings and heading to the city. 

Group of Students

I was over nine hours (by car) away from home, and I couldn’t fathom why anyone would want to stay in their state for college. This seemed like the dream life.

LIM made my transition seamless and easy. There were amazing student life activities, orientation was a chance to find your own little family, and the classes kept me captivated in learning.

When I was forced to return home to Ohio in March due to coronavirus, it felt as if something had been stolen from me. My freedom, my independence, my whole life. But with that sense of loss came something new, a chance to reconnect with my home. I bonded again with my parents and siblings. I became overly comfortable with the fact my best friend was never more than a short drive away.

I remember seeing this quote just before I moved back, it read something like, “you must leave the life you love to find a life you love enough more.” That’s exactly how it felt coming back to the city over the summer. I wasn’t sure how to move from one home to another.

I guess I could say I was a “late bloomer” to homesickness. Sure, I’d miss my family and friends, but it was never quite the extreme of homesickness I saw others around me feeling. With time, it did come, and I was left to learn how to balance my “original” home and my “new” home.

Some tips I have with learning that balance are to stay busy. If you’re living life to the fullest in New York, you’ll remember why you moved here in the first place. We can’t let the homesickness control us. But with that said, text, call, and facetime your family and friends as much as you need to.

Two Women

I often send little videos to my mom of my grocery hauls. I always just find it interesting to show her what I’m buying food wise, and it’s something that keeps us connected. I do that with my best friend from home as well. It’s nice because even if our schedules don’t match up to call, she can still hear my voice and read my expressions a lot easier than texting.

I also find it comforting to keep your friends and family updated on your life in the city. It’s almost a reminder that your lives don’t have to be so separate, even if they feel so far away.

My last tip is don’t be afraid to go home. That might sound silly, but I feel I used to be overcome with “FOMO” (fear of missing out) and I was afraid if I went home for a weekend, I might miss out too much on NYC life. You truly aren’t missing out on anything as long as you are happy. Do what’s best for you.

I’ve learned why so many students stay home and commute. Maybe if Ohio was less than an hour drive, I’d be doing the same, but I’ve learned to love both my homes and appreciate what they both have to offer. At the end of the day, we’re lucky to have a piece of our heart in two places of the world.

If you need any extra tips, click here.

Tessa Aldridge

A blog post by Tessa Aldridge

Tessa Aldridge graduated in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Media. In addition to working on The Lexington Line, she was a co-leader of the LIM Blog Club and a Fashion Scholar. She was also part of the team in the College's Office of Marketing and Communications.