There are two types of sicknesses that have every almost-college student nervous to experience for the first time away from home. Physical illness and homesickness. Let me tell you a bit about what physical illness at Oberlin is like, and offer some tips for getting through it. (And stay tuned for part two on homesickness this month!)
The first time I got sick on campus was at the end of September in my freshman year. All I wanted was to be at home in my bed with my mom there to make me soup (kind of goes hand in hand with homesickness). I had to figure out how to see a doctor without a car, get the medicine I needed, get all my meals, and stay caught up on my school work. I am here to help you learn what resources are available to you!
The first doctor you should try to see is the nurse practitioners at Student Health. You can call and make an appointment or go to their walk-in hours (try to get there right at 9am to ensure that you are seen). The next option if Student Health is booked up does depend on your insurance. Double check to see whether a local urgent care or Mercy Allen Hospital’s walk-in clinic is cheaper with your insurance and do one of those options. Making friends is important, but making friends who have cars can be a lifesaver haha!
CVS is luckily a walkable distance from our campus, so I would highly recommend getting prescriptions ordered there and picking up any over-the-counter medications you might need there as well. Another handy way to get access to a car is to sign up for the Oberlin EV Car Share program, and be able to rent an electric car for $8/hour!
Meals are tricky, since you don’t want to go to a dining hall and risk exposing others. If you are totally bedridden, try asking your roommate or a friend who lives in the same hall as you to bring you back meals. Ordering from Umami or The Rathskeller (The Rat) are your best bets as those are the take-away options we have at Oberlin. You can ask a friend to grab one of those for you so they don’t have to use a meal swipe for you (you order through the MobileOrder App), or you can go grab it yourself masked!
It is important to get the phone number of at least one person in each of your classes so you can each have an “I missed class, help!” buddy. This person will hopefully send you the notes and help explain anything you may not understand. It is also important to email your professor to let them know you won’t be there due to illness (this will help you by getting your absence excused so it doesn’t affect your grade). Some professors also post class notes/presentations on their blackboard pages, so it is important to look for that!
Getting sick away from home absolutely sucks, especially when you are busy and missing important things. But it happens to everyone, and I promise, you will get through it!
