For many college students, weekends means getting to go home to home cooked meals, a familiar bed and, above all else, family. Having the option to go home gives the opportunity to recharge and escape campus life for a couple of days. This, however, is not always an option for all individuals. Whether it is because of distance, cost or time, many students may not be getting home until the holidays after their initial move-in. The inability to go home regularly can shape the emotional wellbeing, social life and overall college experience of a student in ways that are often overlooked.

When unable to go home, students can be faced with overwhelming loneliness when seeing their friends and roommates leaving. The emptiness of campus also becomes more noticeable upon seeing the empty dining hall and other campus spaces, the regular chance of bumping into a friend not as likely. Weekends, which are meant to be a time to rest and recharge, can feel isolating and endless. This lack of connection is a harsh reminder of the distance from family.

With many Iona students being New York natives, being able to visit home on the weekends is a luxury that many are not aware that they have. The option to go home to parents, siblings and pets may seem trivial, when to others it is the very thing they spend all semester looking forward to.

For out of state or international students, weekend visits are often out of the question, with home being hours or even a plane ride away. For students who stay on campus, we must learn to navigate a quieter, lonelier atmosphere than what we are used to during the week. The dining hall closes earlier and events are not as active. This shift can make weekends feel long and lonely, especially for students who crave the comfort of family or the routine of their hometowns.

Staying on campus, however, may give some people the push to find new hobbies or activities in order to establish a sense of belonging. Whether it is studying, working or partaking in personal hobbies, finding something to fill the time is crucial to escaping the overwhelming loneliness that weekends may cause.

Some may even take this as a time to find others who stay at school during the weekends and form close bonds with them. Building a sense of community on weekends is a small but meaningful action to take in order to escape isolation. Over time, these students can develop a sense of resilience and self-sufficience that is vital to everyday life.

While going home on weekends may not be an option for all, it can offer students to grow in unexpected ways. Though the distance from home can be difficult, it often reminds students of their strength and adaptability.