As July comes to an end, many of us would’ve gotten our university acceptance letters, bound to start a new phase of life in just a couple of weeks. And if you’re going to any of the local universities, you might have applied for hall stay.
It may seem extremely daunting having to live outside the comfort of your own home, but on the flip side, it is a whole new experience, maybe even a once-in-a-lifetime one!
In this article, we compiled a list of things to expect when staying in a dorm so you don’t get too much of a culture shock, and included a list of essentials for your hall room.
Things To Expect In Hall
- Leaving Your Comfort Zone
Living or sleeping anywhere other than our homes might be something many of us have not experienced, and staying in a hostel will definitely challenge you to break out of your shell.
Whether it’s sharing a room with someone else other than family, spending almost every meal with friends or signing up for many activities to meet new people, it’s a rare chance to live in this sort of setting and this will provide the freedom that the past years of education never did.
And who knows, you might even be chosen to be a pageantee for your hall’s annual pageant! It’ll put you in the spotlight and make unique memories you’ll remember for many years to come.
If you don’t have anyone to room with, there’s always the option of a random roommate. The idea of being assigned to share a dorm room with a stranger could be terrifying for some. It does have its pros and cons, but branching out and living with new people could be just what you need to grow and learn to compromise.
You might even end up finding your best friends for life. Take Ross and Chandler from Friends for example! Of course, it’s not a must to join hall activities if you’re not comfortable with it. Your mental health comes first!
- Less Privacy
Most hostels in universities provide communal toilets i.e. a single toilet is shared by occupants across the whole floor. No need to fret though, some halls such as Saraca Hall in NTU provide rooms with ensuite toilets if you prefer more privacy!
For many of us, our dorm room should be a place where we relax and unwind, but having a roommate also means you have to share your relaxation space with another person.
Image Credits: buyrentkenyaIn my experience, sharing your room is fun because your roommate becomes your closest point of contact, and it’s comforting to always have someone to talk to when you go back after a long day of lessons.
If you still prefer some alone time, you can opt for a single room at a slightly higher cost.
- Commitment After Commitment
For some universities, students are required to participate in hall or school co-curricular activities (CCAs) to ensure their hall stay for the next year. As a result, it’s common for students to have up to five CCAs on their plate, which could be a mixture of sports, arts and other planning committees.
Most events in halls are student-arranged. They are planned and executed by students themselves based on their respective committees, with approval from the school. Being in these committees awards you ‘points’ according to your level of contribution, so the students who contribute more can most likely secure their place in the hall the following academic year.
Juggling your social life, sleep and studies will be difficult and will really put your time management skills to the test. But, as tiring as that sounds, the memories you make with your friends will be irreplaceable.
I recommend all students to put themselves out there and try new things, especially in your first year!
- Booming Social Life
Living amongst friends means your social life almost never stops. With the convenience of living close to each other, you’re bound to spend a lot of time with each other – studying together, going to each other’s rooms for deep heart-to-heart talks, even having impromptu suppers at ungodly hours.
Beware of indulging too much in such gatherings though! “Freshman fifteen” is a popular phrase known in hall, referring to weight gain of 15kg in one’s freshman year due to late night suppers with friends. Everything in moderation guys!
Sadly, with the current COVID-19 measures, such social gatherings will have to be put on hold for a while. The good news is that you can spend more time on your studies!
List Of Hall Must-Haves
To add on, we have compiled a checklist of items commonly found in most dormitory rooms that are essential for your stay. The rest is up to you to make yourself feel at home!
- Wi-fi Router
- Cutlery and Crockery (Reusable – save the Earth!)
- Dishwashing Soap
- Tissue Boxes
- Hangers
- Bedspread (bed sheets, pillow and blanket)
- Cleaning Supplies (Vacuum, broom, feather duster, dry mop)
- Extension Cables
- Mini Fridge (not compulsory, but good to have!)
- Stationary
- Water Jug
- Food Stash (for when you’re lazy to buy food)
- Medications (panadol etc)
- Toiletries
- Toiletries Basket
- Shower Slippers
These are just common experiences and a guide shared by most students. Remember, you have the freedom to construct your own version of hall life and create lovely memories to look back on! We hope this article was helpful in easing your expectations of hall life and check out more content here!
This article was brought to you by Melanie Liao. Melanie spends most of her days watching Netflix and scrolling TikTok.
