Issue #7 |  August 29

First Year  @ USI
Starting College Life
For many of you, this may be your first experience living away from home for an extended period of time, and your usual sources of support may no longer be present. Here are some tips that may help:

  • The first few weeks on campus can be a lonely period, and you may have concerns about forming friendships. When you look around it may seem that everyone else is self-confident and socially successful - the reality is that everyone is having the same concerns.
  • If you allow sufficient time, you can usually find peers to help provide structure and a support system. The important thing to remember when meeting new people is the old cliché “be yourself.” Also, don’t expect meaningful, new relationships to develop overnight. It took a great deal of time to develop your previous friendships; the same will be true of new friendships.
  • Increased personal freedom can be both wonderful and frightening. You are able to come and go as you choose, with no one to “hassle” you. At the same time, things are no longer predictable. The strange environment, with new kinds of procedures and new people, can create the sense of being on an emotional roller coaster. This is very normal and to be expected.
  • Living with roommates can also present special, sometimes intense, problems. Negotiating respect for personal property, personal space, sleep, and relaxation needs may become a complex task. This complexity increases when your roommates are of different backgrounds with different values. Communicating your needs calmly, listening with respect to your roommate’s concerns, and being willing to compromise to meet each other’s needs, can promote resolution of issues.
  • It is unrealistic to expect roommates to become best friends, and hopefully, you and your roommate(s) will work out mutually satisfying living arrangements. But, the reality is that you each may have your own circle of friends.
How do deal with homesickness:
Leaving home to attend school is both exciting and challenging. Homesickness is very normal and is experienced by the majority of students who leave home for the first time. Even if you have spent time away from home previously, you are not immune from the loneliness, self-doubt, concentration difficulties, and preoccupation with home that characterizes homesickness. Here are some basic strategies which have proven effective for many students:

  1. Remember, homesickness is usually temporary - give yourself time to adjust.
  2. Get involved (with other students, classes, and student activities). The sooner you adapt to your new surroundings, the less intense your feelings of discomfort will become.
  3. Call or write home, but avoid going home every weekend. This is especially important during the beginning of the school year when many clubs, organizations and activities are just getting started. This is your opportunity to make new friends, many of whom are in the same boat.
  4. Talk out your feelings with a counselor, friend, or resident assistant. Just giving voice to your feelings can sometimes provide a new perspective and create a sense of relief.
How to Tell If It's More Than Homesickness
  • While most students will develop homesickness and move past it, homesickness can develop into something more extreme.
  • Homesickness can trigger anxiety and depression disorders if not dealt with. Seek guidance from the Counseling Center, the can help you assess the situation and make a plan to move forward.
Need help with homesickness or other concerns?
Contact the Counseling Center 812-464-1867 or visit their website for self-help resources such as how to transition to college, mental health information, and more!
Self-Care
  • Make sure your basic needs are met get enough sleep, eat enough food, drink enough water, exercise when you can, keep personal hygiene in mind
  • Recognize the sources of stress eliminate unnecessary stress, face stress head on in a positive manner
  • Ditch technology for a day - it can truly clear your head!
  • Overcome creative block through self-care give yourself a cognitive break and just walk away, remove distractions, change your scenery, do something that inspires you
Alcohol and Drug Use
  • According to university data, 73.8% of USI freshman report not drinking when hanging out with friends. USI's policy prohibits alcohol and drugs on campus.

  • Students who choose to go out and drink should do so in a responsible manner. Students are encouraged to eat before and while drinking, go out with trusted friends, and make plans to get home safely. Use USI's SAFE Ride if you need to get back to campus!
Campus Resources
  • The Counseling Center offers individual and group therapy to assist students. Need to relieve stress, deal with your emotions, set appropriate goals, or make healthy decisions? Make an appointment today - 812-464-1867 | Counseling Center website
  • The Recreation, Fitness, and Wellness Center offers many opportunities to exercise! Take a class or work out on your own! - 812-461-5268 | Recreation, Fitness, and Wellness website
  • The University Health Center provides medical services and health-related information to students, faculty, and staff. They are located in the lower level of the Health Professions Center. - 812-465-1250 | Health Center website
Check out the  events and activities taking place on campus and in the Evansville community available to new students during their first 40 days at the University

Spend a Saturday volunteering, learning about the city, and making new friends! Join other new students on Saturday, September 22 to help build a new playground for local youth in Evansville. This is a free program that includes breakfast, lunch, and transportation. For more information and to apply, go to https://orgsync.com/70045/forms/328281 . 
Reminders and Upcoming Events:
  • Stay connected in the Facebook Class of 2022 Group
  • Read past editions of this newsletter
  • Thursday, August 30 - Froyo with the DOSO | Breezeway | 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  • Monday, September 3 - Labor Day at the Lake |New Beginnings Lake | 1 - 5 p.m.
  • Wednesday, September 5 - Volunteer Fair | Carter Hall | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  • Wednesday, September 5 - Student Involvement Fair | Quad | 2 - 5:30 p.m.
Student Development Programs| 812-465-7167 | getinvolved@usi.edu