College students navigate identity and adjustment through travel and campus life

College students face significant transitions as they navigate new environments, independence, and the search for identity. For many, travel serves as a rite of passage to expedite personal growth. While some distinguish between 'travelers' and 'vacationers'—arguing that true travel requires escaping comfort and perspective rather than just physical location—all travelers remain outsiders to the cultures they visit.

On campus, the transition to university life is often marked by feelings of loneliness and homesickness. A longitudinal study indicates that 94% of first-year students experience homesickness within their first 10 weeks. Experts suggest that building a sense of home is a gradual process involving the establishment of routines and navigating the responsibilities of independent living.