The North of Home peer support group is organized by Well-being Advocates at Michigan Tech as part of Huskies R.I.S.E., a collection of student-led peer support communities focused on helping students build connections and navigate college life. North of Home specifically focuses on adjusting to life away from home and finding a sense of belonging at Michigan Tech.
Unlike campus activities primarily focused on recreation, North of Home emphasizes personal connection and shared experiences. “I hope that people will take away that they’re not alone in any of their feelings,” one organizer said. “I feel like we’re going to become a community all in that shared experience.”
One of the organizers said North of Home offers a campus gathering that has more emphasis on personal conversations, with recreational activities included. “Even though there’s so many organized events on-campus, they’re mainly just fun stuff,” the organizer said. “Versus this, which feels a bit more deep and personally connected.”
The organizer also emphasized that the people leading discussions and activities have a lot in common with those attending. “We’re just peers,” the organizer said.
For one attendee who said that they’ve been at Michigan Tech for about five years, the biggest obstacle wasn’t finding people with shared interests, but “just the initial conversation.”
The attendee suggested that smaller gatherings could perhaps make starting these conversations easier for students who are struggling with homesickness, or who are simply new to campus. “I’d say a small community like this can help a lot of people, especially people who are just starting at Michigan Tech.”
North of Home is one of many Huskies R.I.S.E. communities. Other groups include Find Your Pack, which focuses on finding a community that’s right for you, and Paws & Reflect, which helps students juggle school, work, and their personal lives.
North of Home meetings are Wednesdays from 5 to 6 p.m. in EERC 218. The gatherings are free and open to students.