Category: Sana M.

By: Sana Muneer

When I graduated high school, I was devastated. 

Don’t get me wrong, I was extremely excited — I was committed to one of my top schools, would be moving to my dream city in a few months, and would finally begin making an impact on a community bigger than my small, midwest hometown. 

However, beyond the excitement, there was something tugging at my heart. I couldn’t believe that I would be moving over a thousand miles away from my family and friends — and my pride and joy: my high school newspaper (as embarrassing as it is).

I served as co-editor-in-chief of The Independent, my high school’s newspaper, during my junior and senior years of high school. While the role came with its hardships and stressors, it was the highlight of my high school experience, and one of the things I am still most proud of. Beyond my role in the paper’s performance itself, I worked alongside my best friends — which was the real reason I didn’t want to leave.

I fondly remember ordering bagels for our entire newspaper staff before our 7 a.m. morning meetings, traveling to St. Louis for the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention and crying at my last ever editor meeting after reading a profile written about my time as EIC. 

How could The Daily Free Press, BU’s independent student newspaper, compare to The Independent, something I spent my entire high school experience contributing to and building up?

Safe to say, I was skeptical. 

Regardless, in September 2023 I made the move to Boston, leaving behind my hometown friends and family and my beloved cat, Coco. 

I remember the moment I walked into my first Features pitch meeting at The Daily Free Press office — a cramped but beloved newsroom tucked under Insomnia Cookies — and seeing the walls covered in old front pages and wholesome digital camera photos. The cozy office hummed with the sounds of clicking keyboards, conversations and laughter. 

It felt familiar — but I was still hesitant. At the FreeP, I was just another new writer, surrounded by students who had already made names for themselves in the newsroom. I had to start over.

That day, I pitched my first story, a review of one of my favorite indie bands, boygenius. Reviews were a piece of cake, but when I saw my first byline on the website, I felt a rush. I was even more thrilled when my editor told me it would be put in the semester’s first print edition. 

One story turned into another, then another, and before I knew it, I was spending more time in the office than in my dorm. 

It wasn’t an immediate transition, but at some point, I stopped comparing The Daily Free Press to The Independent. The two weren’t in competition. They were just different chapters of the same story— the story of how I fell in love with reporting, storytelling and the messy, exhilarating world of student journalism.

And in fact, I did find a community — among the editors who pushed me to work harder, the associates who became my best friends, through the unspoken bond between caffeine-fueled editors running on sheer determination, and in the late nights in that beloved office — and it reminded me why I fell in love with journalism in the first place.

Now, as Managing Co-Editor of The Daily Free Press, I realize that leaving The Independent wasn’t an ending. It was just the beginning.

When I first committed to Boston University, the idea of moving 1000 miles away from home was thrilling. I spent my entire life in the suburbs of Chicago, and while I loved my hometown, I felt that I was ready to explore and experience more outside of my bubble of Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Boston and BU's allure was too enticing for me to resist. 

However, almost as soon as I threw my cap in the air at my high school graduation, an uneasy knot formed in my stomach as I realized the reality of my college choice. 

Was I ready to move away from home? Could I handle being in an unknown city without family nearby? Am I strong enough to get through the hard times by myself?

These seeds of doubt followed me all summer as I prepared for college. While I was thrilled and grateful to experience a new chapter in my life in a new environment, I was terrified of the amount of change I’d be experiencing. 

Amidst the whirlwind of emotions I felt as I packed up my bedroom, I reminded myself why I chose Boston University in the first place. 

For me, it wasn’t entirely about the academic programs or bustling city life. I wanted to challenge myself and grow in ways I wouldn’t be able to if I stayed within the confines of my comfort zone and the convenience of my hometown. 

So, on move-in day, after I said tearful goodbyes to my family, I did exactly that: challenged myself. I introduced myself to my dorm floor neighbors, got involved in an outrageous amount of clubs, and threw myself into my schoolwork. However, throughout my first semester, the feelings of homesickness I thought would abate never left me. 

Though I was kept extremely busy with my classes and social life, I still had persistent, nagging feelings of sadness and anxiety. I knew that homesickness was a common experience during the first semester of college, but I did not expect it to impact me as much as it did and for as long as it did.  

My first semester flew by, and after winter break, I found myself dreading going back to school. I was worried that my negative feelings and homesickness would continue to affect my day-to-day life and prevent me from enjoying college.

In an effort to combat these negative feelings, I surrounded myself with the people I felt best with. Spending time with friends who understood my feelings and allowed me to repeatedly express them was an outlet I was extremely grateful to have, and it also strengthened my friendships with them. 

Beyond connecting with the people around me, I made a conscious effort to stay connected to my family and friends back home. Scheduling weekly (or daily) calls at set times gave me something to look forward to and motivation to power through the day, alleviating my loneliness and feelings of disconnect from life back at home.  

Coming back home for spring break and leaving at the end of the break was an extremely difficult but final process of realization for me. As I reached the final six weeks of my freshman year of college after spring break, I acknowledged that while leaving family and friends at the end of each break is hard -and will undoubtedly get harder- it’s a significant part of the college experience that is a testament to my growth and strength. 

Each time I return to my hometown, I'm reminded of the comfort and familiarity it offers, but I also recognize the importance of returning to Boston, growing independently, and continuing my journey at Boston University. 

Homesickness and anxiety in college are normal experiences for college freshmen - and sophomores, juniors, and seniors - to have.  Feeling uncomfortable, anxious, and uncertain in a new place is natural, and all transitions will have bumps in the road. 

It is important to recognize that adjusting to a new environment takes time and all students will feel a range of emotions during this transition period. 

I want to advise incoming freshmen to give themselves permission to feel any emotions they experience—whether sadness, anxiety, anger, or regret—and understand that it's all part of the process of navigating a new, unfamiliar experience. 

Remember that everyone's college transition journey is unique, and there's no right or wrong way to work through it. Be patient with yourself, take time to process your feelings, and trust that with time, you'll settle into your new surroundings and begin to feel more comfortable. There is no right or wrong amount of time to take when adjusting to college life. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and seek support from your family and friends. Embrace the challenges and opportunities that come during this new chapter of your life - and above all, be kind to yourself during this exhilarating yet daunting transition.