It’s not ideal that we, the not-so- second-years, barely relate to most of the previous freshers’ experiences (yes, please tell me one more time about those ‘BT tower lights guiding us home’ after parties). But the one thing that no one could take away from us was the craze, the fun, and the grime of living in halls. Of course, two terms of remote studies didn’t give us much of a choice: if you wanted to entertain yourself, you either had university halls, socially-distanced supermarkets, or a closed campus.
Before moving in, I didn’t expect much, relying on the sheer power of just BS’ing it through like I usually do. I can now say that my few months of living in halls were some of the best of my life — and these few affirmations helped me feel more at ease.
1. It’s all a game and no one knows the rules.
Don’t take things too seriously. Moving to halls was the perfect time to unleash my innate (if sometimes dormant) ability to find life hilarious. I laughed at how heavy my suitcases were and how horrible it was that my 19th-century accommodation didn’t have an elevator. I laughed at my first failed student meal as I poured hot water into a pot of disgusting instant ramen. I laughed at myself for getting lost on the way to Lidl that was just two streets away. Laugh when in doubt! Hahaha!
2. Let coincidence lead you to your friends.
There’s pressure to find your ‘cool uni friend group’ during the first year, and it would be a lie if I said I didn’t worry about being liked, belonging, and fitting in. To ease my anxiety over new friendships, I just let fortune guide me — and I was 100% right. I met my entire friend group by accidentally knocking on the wrong door while looking for the friend I shared the kitchen with. Two of my other friends met by having one’s orange juice drown the other’s veggies in the crowded fridge. Yes, someone might have ruined your dinner, but it’s a small price to pay for Real Human Connection in a post-COVID world.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and reach out to people.
Everyone at the accommodation is in the same boat. Really. It’s important to not be afraid to reach out for help, whether it’s to help you find the laundry room, open a can of coconut milk, or listen to your worries at 3 AM. Ultimately, your accommodation is like a family (albeit a slightly dysfunctional one), tightly knit by the shared chaos of adulting. I was never alone — and no one is.
4. Decorate. Your. Room.
Uni room decorations were a necessity — I literally had to spend days in that box. Every ounce of prettiness counted, and my friends helped me out: one gave me Ghibli photo cards to hang on my board, and another inspired me to order a tapestry. I added fairy lights and whatever artifacts I could bring in my overloaded suitcases, and voilà! I’d created the dorm room of a typical white girl who’s totally having the time of her life.
5. Your schedule is likely to be a hot mess — and that’s okay.
During exam season, I woke up at 2 PM and went to bed at 4 AM. This sounds awful on paper, but I guess it worked — so long as you’re honest with yourself about how wrecked your sleeping pattern is. Through all the ups and downs of uni, I consider myself lucky to have lived in halls. I found a ‘friend group,’ learned how to cook, avoided getting eaten by rats, and marvelled at the ability of some of them to pull all-nighters every night. Plus, even if you have the worst time living in halls, it’ll probably make for a good story at a party. You know, those things where people get together in a room and have ‘fun’.