By Lindsey Coblentz
Heading off to college for the first time is an event that may fill many freshmen with excitement and anticipation of new experiences and opportunities.
While beginning a new chapter in their lives can prove to be exciting, for some it can also be nerve-racking.
This may be the first time that many freshmen have been away from home for an extended period of time. As is the case for University of Louisville freshman Emily Wortham a secondary education major, who is from Elizabethtown, Ky.
“The most I’ve been gone for is, like, two days,” said Wortham.
Like many, Wortham comes from a tight knit family. “I’m really close to my mom, so it’s going to be weird not being in a house with someone to talk to 24-7.”
Wortham said that some of the things that she will miss the most will be the little things like eating dinner and watching television with her family.
Not only do new incoming freshmen face leaving their families behind, but most leave behind some close friends as well. This can be especially tough when friends are states apart.
With all these friends and family to miss, what’s to keep freshmen from going crazy with loneliness? How are they to cope?
Rachel Hart, now a senior biology and chemistry major, said that when she was a freshman she “dealt with those feelings by getting involved on campus.”
For Wortham, getting involved on campus is also the key. “I really want to get in shape and do intramurals, and I definitely have the season tickets to the basketball/football games.”
Leaving behind a boyfriend or girlfriend is another thing altogether.
Recently single, Wortham said, “Personally, I want to take advantage of all my new opportunities at U of L. I think you miss part of the experience if you’re focusing on someone who is not there.”
Regarding the issue of maintaining a long-distance relationship in college, Laura Byrd, a counselor and outreach coordinator for the U of L Counseling Center said, “It’s really an individual, personal thing. If people want to try to maintain that, then that might be what’s best for them.”
According to Byrd, maintaining relationships is something that a lot of people often have trouble with, especially if there is considerable distance between the couple.
“A lot of times, I like to help people not think of things as so black and white. Maybe you can keep this person in your life, but you don’t have to talk to them every single day like you’re used to doing,” she said.
“If you want to make something work, you’re going to have to make time, whether it’s on the phone or in person. You could write letters or send care packages.”
As with any new experience, going off to college can cause nervousness and a bit of loneliness or doubt.
The important thing for freshmen to remember is that you have a lot of exciting new friends and opportunities that await you at U of L.
“I got to know people on my hall, I got involved with Catholic Campus Ministries and attended some of the campus events,” said Hart.
All you have to do is go find them.
Located between the Student Activities Center and the Houchens Building, the University’s Counseling Center can be a source of help, not only for the lonely freshman, but for any student in general.
The Counseling Center provides both individual and group counseling, as well as class presentations on an array of topics.
