Your roommates have gone home. Your classmates are scattered across the country for internships (or maybe you're the one in a new city). The library is nearly empty. Even your favorite coffee shop doesn't seem as busy. And somewhere in all of that silence, loneliness (and maybe even homesickness) has a way of creeping in.

If this is how you're feeling, you're not the only one. In fact, summer can be one of the hardest times of the year for international students, not because you're doing anything wrong, but because almost everything around you has changed.

During the school year, it's easy to find opportunities to connect with people. You're attending classes together, studying late in the library, grabbing meals after work or lectures, and seeing familiar faces every day.

Then summer arrives.

Many American students head home. Others leave for internships in different cities. Student organizations pause their meetings, and campus events slow down dramatically. Without realizing it, you've lost many of the small interactions that helped you feel connected.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming that loneliness means they've failed to adjust. It doesn't. Loneliness is often just a signal that your usual sources of connection have changed.

The solution isn't to wait for the fall semester to begin. It's to intentionally create new routines and to stop waiting for community to happen, and start creating it.

It can be as simple as:

• Inviting a neighbor to explore a nearby town.
• Organizing a weekend cricket match or soccer game.
• Hosting a potluck where everyone brings a favorite dish from home.
• Visiting a local farmers market, hiking trail, museum, or festival solo or with a friend.
• If you're working an internship, asking a coworker if they'd like to grab coffee or lunch sometime.

You might feel the pull to stay in and glue yourself to your phone screen. Technology makes it easier than ever to stay in touch with family, and that's something to be grateful for. You see photos of family vacations, weddings, festivals, birthdays, and weekend gatherings happening back home. Friends you've known for years are spending time together while you're watching it unfold through Instagram stories and WhatsApp photos.

It's ok to call home, celebrate birthdays over video chat, share photos of your new experiences, tell your parents about the little things (not just the big achievements), etc., but also be mindful to not spend every evening scrolling through life back home. If you're constantly watching everyone else's memories, you'll have less time creating your own (and it doesn't always have the desired affect on your homesickness like you thought it would).

Summer doesn't have to be a season of waiting and wishing things were different. It can become a season of growth.

Consider:

• Taking a certification you've been putting off.
• Improving your LinkedIn profile.
• Practicing interviewing.
• Reading books outside your coursework.
• Exploring nearby cities.
• Cooking meals you've never made before.
• Learning something that has nothing to do with your degree.

The goal isn't to stay busy every minute. It's to remind yourself that life is still moving forward.

If you're struggling, don't assume everyone else is having the perfect summer.

They're probably not.

Someone else in your apartment building, your lab, your internship, or your graduate program is likely feeling exactly the same way. Sometimes all it takes is one message.

"Hey, I'm thinking about checking out the downtown farmers market this Saturday. Want to join?"

You might be surprised how many people were hoping someone else would make the first move.