BUHAY BUHAY

DORMEDORMERR

You’ve waited for the PSHS Competitive Exam You’ve waited for the PSHS Competitive Exam Results. And you made it. You looked forward to Results. And you made it. You looked forward to getting out of the house and finally being on your getting out of the house and finally being on your own. Meeting new friends, living in a new place, own. Meeting new friends, living in a new place, and learning new things sounded so exciting…and learning new things sounded so exciting…

until you got here…until you got here…

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING DO YOU EXPERIENCE?

Depressed feelings

Anxiety

Sadness

Headaches, stomachache, mild fever

Loss of appetite

Difficulty in sleeping

Cries easily when remembers family

Calls parents often

Cries at night

Pretends that everything is ok

YOU’RE HOMESICK

And believe or not, you are not alone. Many PSHS students find themselves craving home-cooked meals and longing for grade school friends.

WHY?

WHY DO WE EXPERIENCE HOMESICKNESS?

Individuals have different levels of tolerance to change and have learned different ways of coping with new situations.

In a familiar place, people generally feel accepted and secure and are therefore able to function and meet challenges successfully.

Away from the familiar, they are without their usual sources of support, and in unfamiliar surroundings, their tried and tested methods of coping and working are challenged; “failure” looms large and self-esteem and confidence drops.

Tasks which would normally have been taken in one’s stride, can suddenly seem quite a challenge, or even feel impossible.

Familiar surroundings, people, and routines provide people with a sense of security and comfort

It’s not surprising that homesickness occurs especially during freshman year. You leave your home life – a situation in which you find comfort, a place where you already belong.

Then you enter High School life

where YOU are just as unknown

as the PLACE around you.

GROUP ACTIVITY1. Group yourselves into 4.

2. Discuss the following among yourselves:

a. What do you miss about your home?

b. What do you like about the dorm?

c. What similarities do they share?

d. What advice can you give to those who also feel homesick?

3. Collate your answers on a piece of paper.

TIPS TO OVERCOME HOMESICKNESS

1. Admit that you feel homesick at times.

2. Know that it is a temporary feeling that disappears over time.

3. Take time to share your feelings of homesickness with your friends and room mates. Cry if you want to.

4. Be with people as often as possible and build new relationships.

5. Keep in good contact with the people you have left behind.

TIPS TO OVERCOME HOMESICKNESS

6. Take care of your health.

7. Get involved with extra-curricular activities.

8. Check out the reasons why you want to stay.

9. Give yourself time to adjust.

10. Bring something that reminds you of home.

11. Keep a journal.

12. Empathize with others.

SUPPORT GROUPSUPPORT GROUP

Dorm mates, Dorm volunteers, Big sisters (main dorm), and friends

The support group is there to listen to your sharing and to help you feel comfortable in the dorm. While your peers provide comfort, the upper batches and adults will give you advice on how to cope with certain stresses because they have already gone through the process that you are experiencing. Whether it’s just homesickness, academics, relationships, and others, they are willing to help you. All you have to do is be willing to be helped.