As we enter fall and winter break season and many of our students may soon depart their residence halls and apartments to travel back to spend time with beloved family, friends, and pets, I wanted to dig a little deeper into the concept of “home” and what that means, both from a physical and philosophical space ideology.
For many, the transition to college marks a significant shift in life’s trajectory. It’s a time of newfound independence, exploration, and self-discovery. Amidst this whirlwind of change, the concept of ‘home’ takes on a new meaning for college students, becoming more fluid and multifaceted than ever before. Over this two-part series, I’ll break down (in a way not necessarily validated by an official research study or peer-reviewed manuscript mind you) some of the concepts and variables I think of with the concept of home and some of the things we as higher education professionals may wish to interrogate and reflect on further as we work to support the students we serve.
Home as a Physical Space
Traditionally, home has been associated with a physical place – the house, apartment, or other dwellings where one grew up, the place where family and familiar surroundings provide a sense of comfort and security. For college students, this physical space often remains a significant source of solace and connection, even as they embark on their academic journeys away from it.
Home, in this sense, represents a sanctuary, a place where memories are woven into the fabric of the walls and where the echoes of childhood laughter still linger—perhaps even pencil marks along a wall joint to show how we have grown as children into young adults. It’s a place to return to during breaks, a place to reconnect with roots and seek refuge from the pressures of college life.
While many college students embark on a journey far from their childhood homes, the physical space they grew up in still holds a special place in their hearts. A childhood home can represent a time of innocence, security, and the unwavering support of family. The familiar sights, sounds, and smells of home can evoke a sense of comfort and nostalgia, serving as a refuge from the pressures and uncertainties of college life. While these above-mentioned elements may be alive for many, it is still not a hard rule for all.
Not all students have the same emotional connections to home as a physical place and in some cases, some may not have had a sense of safety or housing security growing up. This could be due to being unhoused or in the case of many childhood friends of mine growing up, constant moves due to a family member serving in the armed forces and growing up in base housing all over the country and sometimes abroad across the world.
Home as a Community
As college students step into the vibrant tapestry of campus life, they begin to forge new connections, forming friendships, and finding belonging within their chosen communities. These communities, whether it’s a residence hall floor, a student organization, or a group of shared interests, become surrogate homes, providing a sense of camaraderie, acceptance, and belonging.
My doctoral research explored first-year commuters and their living situations which often were with family in their childhood homes. For many of the students I interviewed, they shared they were faced with two decisions—to either continue living at home and commuting to school or to pick a different institution or learning opportunity. These students also self-described the things they felt connected to whether it be caregiving for younger siblings or a multigenerational household or perhaps strong affiliation and connections to a cultural or faith community.
These students didn’t see their institutional environment as “home” as they had not shifted to the campus for their living situation but saw this as a place where they came for their academics and some social and engagement opportunities. In this laid the rub—a lack of sense of belonging with the institutional community and an overreliance on institutional values towards students residing in on-campus housing to develop socialization and engagement opportunities.
This is not to say that the on-campus experience is not valuable. For many college campuses, on-campus residential communities offer a sense of familiarity in the unfamiliar, a place where individuals can share their vulnerabilities, celebrate their triumphs, and find support amidst the challenges of college life. They become extensions of home, providing a network of care and understanding.
Home as a State of Being
Beyond a physical space or a community, home can also be an internal state of being, a sense of comfort and belonging that one carries within. It’s the feeling of being true to oneself, of being accepted and appreciated for who one is.
This idea of home as being a state of being (internal home) is cultivated through self-awareness, personal growth, and the pursuit of passions. It’s about creating a sense of balance and harmony within oneself, of finding peace amidst the chaos of external circumstances. College years are a time of intense personal growth, as students explore their identities, values, and aspirations. As they develop a strong sense of self, they cultivate an internal home, a place of refuge and self-acceptance that remains constant amidst the ever-changing landscape of college life.
While for me personally the last time I claimed an Ohio address as “home” was in 2008, Ohio still serves as the heart of it all for me—both in slogan and in spiritual succession. Over the years, I’ve hardened and grown to appreciate my strong Midwestern heritage and my love for the things, people, places, and flavors I remember from growing up in Ohio but I don’t know that I would see myself living there again.
In a similar way, I’m a product of the places and people I have crossed in my journey of life. I picked up “y’all” as part of my common vernacular during my National Housing Training Institute (NHTI) at Texas Tech between my first and second years of grad school. During my time in the Chicagoland area, I learned navigation of big city life for the first time ever—and probably carried with me some deeply steeped perspective and hesitancy from my Midwestern smaller-town suburban life.
The Evolution of Home
As college students progress through their academic and development journeys, their understanding of home most likely will also continue to evolve. It becomes a dynamic concept, adapting to their changing needs and experiences.
Home may be a physical space, a community, a state of being, or a combination of all three. It’s a concept that is constantly redefined, shaped by the individuals’ experiences and growth. For some populations on college campuses such as international students, home may also be both a physical destination and space as well as a unique cultural community and even worldview.
Embracing the Fluidity of Home
For college students, embracing the fluidity of home is essential for navigating the challenges and opportunities of their academic journeys. It’s about recognizing that home is not confined to a single place or definition but rather encompasses the multifaceted aspects of their lives.
It’s about cherishing the memories and connections associated with their physical homes, while also embracing the new communities and experiences that college life offers. It’s about cultivating a sense of self-acceptance and inner peace, creating a home within themselves that they can carry wherever they go.
The concept of home for college students is a complex tapestry woven with threads of physical space, community, and self-discovery. By embracing the fluidity of this concept, college students can navigate the transitions and challenges of their academic journeys, finding comfort, support, and a sense of belonging in the ever-evolving landscape of their lives.
