Strategies for Addressing End-of-Year Emotions
As you get to the end of your exchange experience you may start to experience a wide range of emotions. You may feel anything ranging from gratitude to sorrow to worry to anything in between. There is no one "correct" way to process the end of a program, and all feelings are legitimate.
- Here are some helpful strategies for ensuring that the remainder of your journey is meaningful, even with lots of feelings at play:
- Make a plan about what the rest of the year is going to look like; what you want to do, things you'd like to share with your host family and friends and any goals you wanted to reach.
- Decide with your host family and friends, how you are going to remain in touch after you return home.
- Talk to your host family about what you've accomplished together and what you have learned from one another. These AFS questionnaires - when revisited at this late stage in the year- can really help students and families take stock of how much you have grown to learn about one another:
- If you feel like there has been a shift in your family dynamic, initiate a conversation and discuss openly. It is natural to find yourself withdrawing a little more, or talking with friends and family back home more, or showing other signs of possible struggle with preparing to say goodbye. Be open with your family about how you are feeling, they may be dealing with similar feelings.
- If your program departure date is much later than the end of your school year, planning additional engagement activities can be especially helpful.
- In addition to spending time with friends, you can explore volunteer opportunities, attend local events, and engage in your host community in other ways.
- Think about what might be available to do during the day, and what local opportunities you can enjoy with your host family and/or other AFSers.
- If you need help, talk to your liaison.