College is an exciting time in everyone’s life, a time for new experiences and adventures that some students didn’t think were possible. Studying abroad is an opportunity that no college student should pass up; it allows you to travel the world, learn, and explore different cities, cultures, and even day-to-day life. While it is a fun and exciting experience for many, something that not every student is aware of is the struggles that come once they return to campus. Being abroad is a big change for everyone and can take a long time to adapt while you are away, but as it is hard to adapt to a brand-new country, it is equally hard for students to return and adapt back to campus life. But one thing you should know is that you are never alone. Here are ways that you can thrive after returning to campus! From recognizing if you are experiencing reverse culture shock and what resources you can use to combat that, to staying degree motivated and staying in touch with all your friends from around the world.

My Story

I started my college journey in community college, and while it was a great way to save money and get my Gen-Eds out of the way, I still felt that I needed to get away and try something new while I still could. I decided to participate in the Disney College Program, in which I would move to Florida and work at Disney World for a semester.

Although the program is within the United States, it still shares many of the same experiential and developmental benefits of being abroad. To be specific, it shares the task of moving to somewhere completely new without knowing anyone around you while having live completely on your own. It also allows you to connect with people from all over the country and all over the world. In my time there I had roommates from Australia, Japan, Mexico, and Nicaragua, all of which I still stay in contact with now.

I enjoyed every second of my program and developed many critical life skills while also building memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. But alongside that came the challenges of having to eventually leave. While participating in the program, you are living with and interacting with people from across the globe every single day. So, when you leave, so are many of the friends you’ve made. It leaves the thought that even if you go back, it will never be the same.

Leaving the program was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. You create a new life with all new friends and coworkers that you have to say goodbye to. One thing that I could never wrap my head around was that I had become so close with so many of these people, and I may never see them again.

Once I was home, I really struggled because all my close friends were now across not only the country but the globe as well. I felt alone. I was used to working full-time hours, and now I had to go back to being a full-time student.

Depression in College 

Although College is supposed to be one of the best times of our lives, students across the globe struggle with depression in college. The root of depression could be coming from a variety of different aspects of college, whether it is financial, academic stress, or even just homesickness. Depression plagues across every college campus. Although everyone is excited for college to start, we are still creatures of habit, and college comes with a lot of new changes that can throw kids into a spiral if they’re not taking care of themselves mentally. College is a big change to begin with, and moving to an entirely new country is an even bigger one. This can cause students who study abroad to be susceptible to depression, even among students who have never experienced it. Whether it is when students arrive in the country they’re studying in or upon re-entry.

What is Reverse Culture Shock?

The largest challenge when returning to campus after being abroad is Reverse Culture Shock, in which students struggle to readapt to their own culture. This can cause students to struggle to stay academically and degree motivated, have trouble reconnecting with old friends, and even feel isolated and alone. Students struggle mentally when adapting back to campus life, which can lead to a lack of motivation in their schoolwork and their effort with their friends.

Common Signs of Reverse Culture Shock

• Restlessness

• Boredom

• Depression

• Uncertainty

• Confusion

• Isolation

• “Reverse homesickness”

Lilly Hanslik, a junior at Marquette University who studied in Italy this past summer, shared how there are many little things that change in your life while you’re abroad based on their culture, and when you come back, readjusting can be difficult. “Nowhere here is a walkable city, and I loved being in a walkable city. I was walking 20,000 steps a day; it was the healthiest I felt since being a full-time athlete in high school.” 

One aspect of reverse culture shock that not many thinks of is that when students return to campus after being away for a long time, they think it is going to be exactly the exact same as how they left it. But even in a short amount of time, a lot can change, whether that’s physically, structurally, or scenery-wise, or even mentally within your relationships and friendships. This causes students to feel out of place; they must readjust to what feels like a brand-new environment to them. The effects of Reverse Culture Shock can take a long time to go away, and some may never even go away.