Many students go home on the weekends, whether for jobs or other obligations.

Working back home isn’t always the case, however. Many students are homesick, especially if they’re freshmen or new to campus. It’s understandable.

But the best way to work through your homesickness is often to become more accustomed to college life. When you come to college, you have new responsibilities, and you should be learning how to be on your own, making your own decisions.

Homesickness is probably the main reason students leave on the weekends, said Agata Wilusz, a junior elementary education major. It’s also easy to say there’s nothing to do or no one see in DeKalb on weekends. The fewer area events students are aware of, the more likely they are to go home.

Of course, the more students who stay on campus, the more there is to do. The next time you’re thinking of driving home to see friends, consider acquaintances who live in DeKalb.

Go to the on- and off-campus events in DeKalb. You’ll save gas money, and many events are free.

Check the e-mail NIU sends to every student about weekly school events. Take advantage of theater and art events, or get involved in campus organizations.

Outside of NIU, local establishments, including Java 101, Otto’s and the House Cafe, often have live music and open mic nights.

For fresh air, visit NIU’s lagoon or the local parks. Ride your bike on the area paths. Attend NIU-hosted lectures and sporting events – a good way to find other students with similar interests.

It’s OK to have close ties to your hometown, but it can be too easy to go back to what you know.

But by leaving your comfort zone, you’ll make it easier to stay on campus the next weekend, and create new ties.

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