According to the Oxford English Dictionary, home is “the place where a person or animal dwells.” A second definition states that home is “the place where one lives or was brought up, with reference to the feelings of belonging, comfort, etc., associated with it.” For many students at Andrews University, home is a long, long way away, sometimes under both definitions. Throughout the semester, students have dealt with missing loved ones and homesickness. In spite of this, however, there are many different aspects of life at Andrews that help students feel at home, even while missing it.
Some students said that having family close by helped them feel at home. Gabby Schmidt (freshman, social work and Spanish) is from New Hampshire. She says, “I feel at home because my aunt lives close to Andrews.” Erin Trutwein (junior, business management) from Berrien Springs says, “Having my family close by helps me feel at home.”
Other students cited friends as a reason they felt at home. Yu Lei (junior, nursing), who is from Hong Kong, said, “What makes me feel at home is my group of friends who study here.” Maddi Vath (sophomore, English) from Illinois, says, “Home doesn’t have to be a place; it can be more about the people you are with. I consider my close friends here to be part of my home.” Guillermo Acevedo (junior, architecture) from the Dominican Republic says, “Friends and family friends around the area make me feel the most at home on a daily basis.” Additionally, Kimberly Agosto (sophomore, digital communication) from Chicago says, “My mentors make me feel at home because they believe in me.”
In some cases, the feeling of home did not necessarily come from the people, but from the culture of the university. Kevin Alba (sophomore, agribusiness) from California says, “the religious environment helps me feel at home.” Gabriella Srikureja (junior, biochemistry) from Washington says, “The diversity makes me feel at home. Also, hanging out with people who have grown up with similar experiences to me.” Jakob Kwon (junior, accounting and business finance) from Ontario, Canada, says “Andrews has always had a welcoming grace, but what makes me feel at home is the overall atmosphere: friends, teachers, and the recreation.” According to Meryen Gonzalez (sophomore, digital communication), who is from Panama, “My roommate helped me feel at home. Also, the cultural activities that AUSA has done have helped me feel at home.”
All in all, there are many reasons why students feel that Andrews University is their home away from home, and there are many different aspects of campus that help students feel like they belong. The semester is coming to a close, and students are anxious to return to their homes, summer jobs, or vacations. But in the meantime, there are still ways for students to feel like they belong. From having friends and family close by to religious activities, diversity, and cultural events, Andrews University has a place for everyone.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.