Homesick in the Hostel. Wait... Am I feeling out of Place? Let's figure it out.
I thought moving out would be exciting.
A new city. A new college. New people. A fresh start.
Freedom, independence, late-night Maggie, inside jokes with hostel mates, all the things people romanticize about college life.
But nobody talks about the quiet parts.
Like the moment you realize your mom isn’t around to remind you to eat.
Or when you return to your room after a long day and there’s no familiar face asking how your day went.
It’s not that the people around you don’t care.
They just don’t know you and your story yet.
I remember one night, I don’t even know what triggered it. I was lying on my bed staring at the ceiling, feeling blank.
Then my phone buzzed.
It was my family group making plans for the Chhath Puja. I didn’t even open the message. I just put my phone away. And suddenly, I realized I was homesick. Not just for home, but for comfort and connection.
Being a college student away from home can feel like growing up too fast while still figuring life out.
Everyone expects you to adjust, succeed, and smile.
And when everyone else seems happy, you quietly start feeling lost.
And there's always this pressure to be like everybody, to be a part of some group, and to have fun. At least what everyone thinks fun really means.
So here’s what helped me:
• I stopped pretending I was okay all the time.
• I started journaling, making YouTube videos, and writing blogs.
And strangely enough, by helping others feel seen, I slowly started seeing myself again.
So, if you're reading this and feeling something similar, I want you to know this:
You’re not dramatic. You’re not weak. And you’re definitely not falling behind. You’re simply human, missing home, love, and familiarity.
And that’s completely okay.
You don’t have to figure everything out all at once. You don’t need to force yourself into big groups where you don’t feel heard or understood.
And when you do choose to share your feelings, choose your people very wisely.
Now what do y'all think? Am I feeling out of Place?
No, at least not yet, because I'm currently living with my family. But even spending a few days away from them made me realize what many hostel students might feel throughout their college life.