If you’re far from home, not having your friends and family by your side can make adjusting to a new school environment more difficult than expected. My first few weeks of Georgetown, it felt like everyone around me was thriving and I was still trying to figure out how to find my home on the Hilltop. However, once I started talking to people about it, I realized that no one had it all figured out and that we were all in the same boat! You are definitely not alone in the adjustment process, wherever you may be and however you may feel. There definitely are a ton of things you can do to make yourself feel more settled in to Georgetown! I’ve compiled a list of things that helped me feel more at home in my dorm, in the classroom and on the hilltop in general.
Join Clubs!
I know that as a freshman, club culture at Georgetown can be very intimidating and everyone talks about what can be a really competitive application process to a select few number of clubs, but it’s really what you make of it. If you go into the club fair with an open mind and aren’t scared to try new things, you can find a ton of clubs without an application where you can find a community you never expected. One of my favorite weekly activities is Friday Foods with HOPE (Homeless Outreach Programs and Education), where you make sandwiches and hand them out in Dupont Circle to people experiencing homelessness. You don’t have to apply, you can go whenever you want and it’s a really nice way to start your weekend!
However, this is not to say that some of those application-based clubs aren’t great experiences! It’s really awesome to connect with likeminded people and do things you’re passionate about together. Regardless of which clubs or activities you choose or how long it takes you to find them, clubs are a great way to find different kinds of communities, engage with really interesting people and do some cool things.
Go to Chaplains’ Events
My friends and I love attending the residential chaplain’s weekly events, where they host students in their rooms with food, good conversation and a distinct feeling of homeliness. In New South, one of the chaplains will host brownie and quesadilla nights and the other has freshly baked cookies on a different night. My friends and I have found that it’s a great way to get to know the residential ministry, who are all really interesting people from all different walks of life and who are, in my experience, always ready to offer comforting words of wisdom.
Stock up on snacks and comfort food!
One of the easiest and most effective ways to feel at home in your dorm is to have yummy snacks and tea/coffee in stock anytime you need a little pick me up. Whether you need a study snack, or you missed a meal, it can be really helpful to have something to keep you going through the day or the midnight grind session. It’s also really nice to have some tea for when you, your floor mates or your friends inevitably get sick!
Deck out the desk in your dorm!
I try my best not to study or do work on my bed so that I’m not tempted to go to sleep without finishing my work, so to make it easier on myself, I tried to make my desk a really appealing place to do work. I not only have an exceptionally well organized stationary station with all different color pens for note taking, but also a bunch of photos and inspirational quotes, succulents and other little trinkets that remind me of home and make me happy.
Scope out your favorite study spaces!
If you don’t like studying in your dorm, and not everyone does, I think it’s totally worth it to try a bunch of different study spaces on campus and see which one helps you feel the most comfortable or reminds you most of where you would study at home. For example, the ICC Atrium reminds me a lot of my school’s library back home so I love going there during the day and there’s even a Corp coffee shop there for a convenient caffeine fix if needed.
Explore DC!
Even though it may seem counterintuitive, getting out of the Georgetown bubble and exploring DC definitely made me feel more at home here at the hilltop. Getting to see the local restaurants, using the metro system and seeing the city as a whole gave me a feeling of ownership over what began as an unfamiliar city. There are so many fun (and affordable) things to do off-campus and inviting new friends to go on an adventure with you is a great way to make some amazing memories.
Call your friends and family regularly!
Lastly, since coming to Georgetown, I’ve found myself using Facetime a ton and having good ol’ fashioned phone calls with people more and more. It can be a really good way to stay connected with your people back home even as you change and get used to your new home. It definitely helps me stay grounded and it will also make your parents, who might be experiencing some form of empty-nest syndrome, feel a whole lot better too.