HBCU Homecoming Sickness 101: A Guide To Protecting Your Physical Health

What college students need to know to prepare for homecoming sickness season 

HBCU Homecoming is a time when students, alums, staff, and community members come together to celebrate the school’s greatness and, most importantly, Black excellence. In other words, it’s a big reunion where accomplishments get celebrated, activities from the student body are held all week, pep rallies are held, homecoming football games happen, and parades and tailgates occur during this season. HBCU Homecomings are usually held within the Month of October. Since so many people are around currently, there is an increase in COVID-19 cases, respiratory infections, colds, and other illnesses. 

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Why Is It So Common To Get Sick In College?

The closeness of college students is one of the main reasons students tend to get so sick so quickly. When it comes to being a college student, you’re required to go to class, which usually involves close proximity, especially in an intimate space, dormitory, and events on and off campus that students attend. Usually, when in college, students attend parties, which causes them to be in closer proximity to one another. Even if they haven’t participated in a party, it’s almost inevitable to not get sick in school. 

Due to certain conditions in college residence halls, air vents are occasionally not cleaned thoroughly, which can lead to the growth of mold in the vents, particularly those located in specific areas like bathrooms or enclosed dorm rooms. Furthermore, in classroom settings, due to the CDC lifting certain mandates surrounding COVID-19 protocols, masks are no longer required in classrooms, which was a protection mechanism put in place to prevent the spread of someone experiencing any type of COVID-like symptoms. Due to their lifting of that mandate and college students’ beliefs, some individuals come to class feeling ill, while others choose not to go when they’re feeling under the weather. Sadly, if a student chooses to attend class when ill, they unintentionally spread their germs to the other students and the professor. 

Additionally, the homecoming season, which takes place in October, the fall season, affects the weather at specific colleges. This automatically causes a change in the surrounding temperature. Depending on the location of a college campus, Homecoming may be more of an indoor event than an outdoor one for some. Because of that, it might be best for students to choose more indoor-based activities during homecoming season. 

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The Importance Of  Taking  Care Of Your Physical Health  During Homecoming Season 

One of the most important things to do during this season is to take care of your physical health. Drink plenty of fluids such as water and tea, take your vitamins, get enough sleep, and sometimes say “no” to certain events or commitments if your body is feeling overstimulated or drained. Most importantly, if you start not to feel well take the precautions you need to get better. Homecoming season is a big campus reunion for HBCUs, and during this time, there is so much going on which mostly causes students to gather in a multitude of spaces together. Since this is the season of events with large numbers, you must take the necessary precautions to protect your physical wellbeing.

How Can I Take Care Of My Physical Health During Homecoming Season? 

• Take your vitamins: Vitamins help you heal from infections, prevent infections, strengthen bones, and control your hormones. Some of the best vitamins to take during this season are Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and zinc. All of these vitamins help boost your immune system. 
• Drink plenty of fluids: Drinking enough water during this time will help you feel less exhausted and have more energy for the rest of the day. Drinking lots of water, tea, and any other drink containing vitamin C or D will give your body the energy it needs to fight off infections—which is always important during Homecoming. Water is the best drink since it helps your body maintain a normal temperature while moving around during homecoming week. 
• REST, REST, REST: Resting your body is essential throughout the homecoming season. Because there is so much going on at this time of year, students often take on too much at once and spend a lot of physical energy, which can lead to burnout physically, mentally, and emotionally. It’s okay to sometimes say “No” to certain events so that you can rest your body for another event. For instance, a student may have scheduled several events in one day, such as going to their homecoming game, tailgating, attending a party, and hanging out with friends. On that specific day, if they feel under the weather after the tailgate, they can choose to stay home, skip the celebration, or even try to catch up with friends later. Some may choose to disregard their bodies and go to every event scheduled for that day, which may make them feel worse the following day. Homecoming is undoubtedly one of the best seasons at an HBCU, and while it may be difficult for students to miss out on events, your physical health is far more important than anything else. Don’t let FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) get in the way of you not taking care of your physical wellbeing. 

Homecoming season is one of the best parts of being a college student at an HBCU. However, nothing should ever give you the impression that the events taking place during Homecoming are more essential than your physical health. You and others will be in a better position to avoid being sick if you take the best possible precautions during this time to prevent homecoming sickness and stop its spread. Put yourself first, regardless of how everyone else manages the HOCO illness breakout. To accomplish so, you can reduce the number of people in that equation by one. Be kind to yourself, and  Happy HOMECOMING!