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Moving away, should I feel scared?

For years I’ve been excited about moving away from home and now I’m scared. I’m not from a happy/great home life but I feel like I’m going to miss it. Am I going crazy.

Reply 1

Uni of Southampton Students

Official Rep

Original post by bellagough

For years I’ve been excited about moving away from home and now I’m scared. I’m not from a happy/great home life but I feel like I’m going to miss it. Am I going crazy.

Hi @bellagough

Do not worry - it is very natural to feel nervous about moving away, especially as for most it is the first time students will be living away from home. Even if your home life has not been the best, it is still the home you grew up in so you are likely to have some attatchment to it. If you are scared, there is alot of support that universities provide to help students adjust to living on their own as well as a community of other students you can talk to - some of whom may be feeling the same way.

Best of luck in you move
Matthew
Student ambassador

Reply 2

BCU Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post by bellagough

For years I’ve been excited about moving away from home and now I’m scared. I’m not from a happy/great home life but I feel like I’m going to miss it. Am I going crazy.

Hi @bellagough,

Before I arrived in the UK, I kept anticipating and imagining what my life abroad abroad would entail. My first experience living on my own, managing my daily life, having responsibilities and my own commitments. There were so many mixed emotions- the ups and downs of extreme excitement and constant anxiousness. What if I can't manage being on my own? What if the responsibilities become too overwhelming? What if living abroad and moving away just isn't for me These thoughts kept flooding my thoughts before arriving and even after the first few months I arrived. I would miss home so much and call my friends and family almost everyday, all I could think about was seeing them.

But I eventually grew to love living on my own, I soon came to realise it's not all that scary- it just takes time to figure out what you want for yourself. I am now in the middle of my second year in university, and everyday I'm so happy and grateful I took that leap to move away from home. And although I still miss home, I've learnt a lot about myself throughout this process and wouldn't trade it for anything else.

I'm rooting for you!
Danish
BCU Student Rep

Reply 3

De Montfort University

Official Rep

Original post by bellagough

For years I’ve been excited about moving away from home and now I’m scared. I’m not from a happy/great home life but I feel like I’m going to miss it. Am I going crazy.

Hey there 😀

It is completely normal to feel stressed about moving away, as it entails significant change, especially with the transition to university. It is rare for anyone to feel fully relaxed during this process. As the move draws nearer, the magnitude of the impending change becomes more apparent, which could be contributing to your worries. However, I have every confidence that you will manage just fine.

Consider bringing a piece of home with you to your new location. Whether it is photographs of your family and friends, planning occasional visits to them, or simply keeping in touch through calls, maintaining these connections can provide comfort and support. When I moved away from Poland, I initially used to call my mom every day. After two years, I found that I had developed a healthier relationship with my entire family as I embraced my separate and independent life. We now cherish our time together even more when I visit, and distance has actually strengthened our bond. Often, the physical separation can help people appreciate each other more and focus less on shortcomings, fostering deeper connections simply because they miss each other's presence.

I hope it was helpful 💪 Feel free to reach out if you have any questions 😉 You can also chat with me or other students directly through The Ambassador Platform.

Best of luck,

Julia
Psychology student
De Montfort University

Reply 4

University of Winchester

Official Rep

Original post by bellagough

For years I’ve been excited about moving away from home and now I’m scared. I’m not from a happy/great home life but I feel like I’m going to miss it. Am I going crazy.

Hi @bellagough 👋

I completely understand how you're feeling. Moving away to university can be both exciting and daunting at the same time. It's natural to feel nervous and unsure about leaving home, but trust me, you will adjust sooner than you think.

Before you know it, you'll have settled into your new routine and found your place in the university community. The friends you make along the way will become like family, and you'll have countless adventures and opportunities to explore.

I promise you that you're not alone in feeling this way. Everyone goes through a similar adjustment period, but with time, you'll realise how valuable this experience is. There will be times you'll feel homesick or want to go back to what's familiar to you, but you'll also have the chance to grow and learn so much more about who you are as a person.

Don't be afraid to reach out for support if and when you need it. Universities will offer a variety of student support services to ensure your wellbeing needs are catered for including Academic Skills if you have questions about an assignment/coursework, Student Support can help with feelings of loneliness and mental health support and advice, some even have chaplain and faith leaders who offer counselling/someone to talk to (whether you have a faith or not). Also, depending on how far away you live you can go home for a weekend (lots of students do!) and some universities have what they call a 'Reading Week' halfway through each term, which is a bit like half term at school or college where you don't have any scheduled lectures or seminars and you can go home for a few days.

You're going to make memories that will last a lifetime and I'd definitely encourage you to embrace this new chapter with an open mind and excitement for all the possibilities that await you - you're going to have the best time 🤩

You've got this! 🙂
Jo
University of Winchester Rep

Reply 5

University of Kent

Official Rep

Original post by bellagough

For years I’ve been excited about moving away from home and now I’m scared. I’m not from a happy/great home life but I feel like I’m going to miss it. Am I going crazy.

Hi there

It is really normal to feel anxious and scared to move away from home. I felt the same way when moving away too.

Going to a new environment can be quite an intimidating, but it is a really good experience to have. Whilst it is normal to feel stressed, you should not worry to much! There are a lot of opportunities to meet new people at University, take your time to settle in to the new environment. There are always many University hosted events throughout the year, and many sources of support should you need it.

I would recommend checking out your University's Facebook groups for any student groups. It may be helpful to know some people in advance of going to University. :smile:

I hope this helps.
Chloe
University of Kent Student Rep

Reply 6

UCLan Student

Official Rep

Hello,
My name is Haya, and I’m a final year medical student and please don’t think you are crazy!

I also had the same doubts when I was moving away and you eventually do get used to the anxiety of living away from home, you'll have days where you miss your home life and you'll feel homesick.

Eventually you will settle down and enjoy the peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of your home and create new memories and experiences that you will cherish forever. ❤️

I do hope you've found this helpful. If you would like to show your support, please consider leaving us your vote for Best Official Rep here:https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7443827

All the best,
Haya MBBS V

Reply 7

hallamstudents

Official Rep

Original post by bellagough

For years I’ve been excited about moving away from home and now I’m scared. I’m not from a happy/great home life but I feel like I’m going to miss it. Am I going crazy.

Hi @bellagough ,

Don't worry, it is completely normal to feel like this before moving away to a new city and lots of people that go to uni feel like this!

Just try to remember that uni is a fun, new experience where you get to learn lots of new things and meet new people!
I was worried too before I started but you soon settle into a new routine and it feels like normal.

I would say if you are feeling nervous, if you can, go and visit the city that you are moving to. I did this when I was moving to Sheffield and it helped me to feel a lot more at ease as I knew where I was moving to and had a look where the uni buildings were, my accommodation and generally what the city is like.

I would also say to reach out to people through Facebook before you go as this can help to ease your nerves if you know people/have spoke to people before you start. This helped me as I knew some of my flat mates before I went and this helped to settle my nerves when I was moving in.

I would also make sure you have lots of homely things for your new room to make it feel like home as this is a big part of feeling settled. Bring photos, blankets etc and you will feel a lot more at home in your new room!

I hope this helps,

Lucy -SHU student ambassador.

Reply 8

Kingston Reps

Official Rep

Hey @bellagough,

It's completely normal to feel scared about moving away - regardless of your background, university is a big change, and for a lot of people it's the first time they've ever been on their own for an extended length of time.

What really helped me when I first moved away was having a good idea of when I was intending to come back. Whether that's for a few days over reading week or a longer period at Christmas/summer break, knowing that you'll return and that you're not leaving things forever can help shift any nerves you might be feeling. In some ways, university is just like an extended vacation in a cool, new place (although you still do have to do a bit of work)! 🙂

If you can, try and familiarise yourself a bit with the general location you're moving to. If you can't manage to visit for a few days prior to starting, spend some time on Google Maps looking at different shops or landmarks nearby to you. That way once you arrive you won't feel too overwhelmed.

Best of luck!

Eve (Kingston Rep).

Reply 9

Teesside University

Official Rep

Original post by bellagough

For years I’ve been excited about moving away from home and now I’m scared. I’m not from a happy/great home life but I feel like I’m going to miss it. Am I going crazy.

Hi there,

You're not going crazy! It's totally normal to feel more nervous the closer it gets to moving away from home. You'll find that most people will have mixed emotions and you are not alone! Of course you are going to miss parts of your home life but you can always go back and visit, and remember your family are only ever a phone call or video call away.

There are also some things you can do once you've moved to make yourself feel more comfortable and at home. Why not bring pictures, ornaments, blankets etc. to make your new room feel homely? It's also a great idea to try and socialise with new people - chat to the people in your halls if you are staying there or try joining a new club or society. It's good to spend time with like-minded people who may be in the same boat as you.

It's also important to shout up if you need some support. Reach out to your friends or family back home, and you'll find that your University will have support services to help you too. Don't be afraid to let people know how you're feeling.

I hope this helps and best of luck!
G