What it’s like to live in residence

Three students playing video games together in residence

King warrior Written by special contributor 

You’ve seen pictures online, maybe you’ve even taken a tour — but what’s residence life really like? Five Waterloo students — and one upper-year residence don — are here to give you the goods.

  • Celina, Arts and Business (Economics and Digital Arts Communications), UW Place
  • Isaac, Arts (Economics and Political Science), Conrad Grebel University College
  • Mofe, Biomedical Sciences, UW Place
  • Gabriel, Physics and Astronomy, Claudette Millar Hall
  • Katrina, Arts (Legal Studies), St. Jerome’s University Residence
  • Saad, Science (Psychology), don at Mackenzie King Village

Why did you decide to live in residence?

Celina: My family’s in Shanghai, so I’m pretty far from home. The major reason why I came was to make connections. I have a good roommate — we’re now best friends — and I’ve become best friends with another person I met in the elevator hall! Which is really funny.

Isaac: I’m from Waterloo, so that’s a bit different. I chose residence because I knew that being around other people would be beneficial to my health, happiness and success. I have friends in Waterloo still living at home, and for them it’s a bit more, open the laptop, get to work, 9 to 5.

Mofe: I had been at home in Brampton first term, but I'm one of a family of five so being at home wasn't the ideal environment for studying and commuting over two hours a day would take up a lot of valuable time.

Gabriel: I wanted to be independent — have my own space, make my own decisions about my schedule. Plus if there’s anywhere I’m going to find people who are interested in the same things as me, or meet future colleagues, it’s in residence.

Katrina: I did a tour of St. Jerome’s in my Grade 12 year and I really loved the smaller community St. Jerome’s offers. My parents both supported my decision to come to residence to meet new people — and also because I’m not great at working from home! The new atmosphere really helps with my academics.

Saad: I’m Canadian, but I was living in Dubai for high school. My brothers told me residence is a really great time, and I didn’t want to cook! And I wanted an environment where I could meet people easily. When I was in first year and second year, I had amazing dons. I wanted to be that kind of person. And I wanted to make sure my students didn’t make the mistakes I made in first year. Like leaving Kleenex in your jeans pockets in the wash...

Illustration of residence dons

Dons are specially trained upper-year students living in residence who can help you navigate your first year at Waterloo: they’re community builders, sympathetic ears, and fountains of information about Waterloo’s resources on campus. This illustration is of the Mackenzie King Village dons and was designed by fellow don Aisley Ellis. 


What were you expecting residence to be like before you moved in? And, expectations vs reality?

Celina: Mostly I was expecting to study in my room. But actually, with my roommate, I’ve been going into STC (Science Teaching Complex) to study. Exploring the campus and studying in the buildings makes me feel like a college student.

Isaac: I was concerned that everyone would just be locked in their rooms, studying. But it has been great. People leave their doors open and you can say hi walking down the hall. It feels like an open plan workspace, but if you need to, you can close the door.

Group of students sitting in a cafeteria together

Gabriel: I was worried I wasn’t going to meet people. For the first couple of days, it was what I expected — just holding doors for people as they moved in, maybe exchanging Instagram accounts. But then one day I was walking down the stairwell and a group of people said, "Hey" and before I knew it, I was over in Waterloo Park sitting on the grass with a bunch of people spread out in a big circle just talking, and I was like “Okay, I found it.”


So, what’s a typical day like for you?

Celina: I like to cook, so every day I make breakfast. I usually finish my work Monday to Thursday, so I don’t have to worry about it at the end of the week. I’ll get dinner with my roommate. Sometimes I have meetings for clubs.

Isaac: I get up around 8, sometimes I do yoga, journal, then at breakfast everyone’s a bit groggy together. From 9 – 12 everyone’s working, then we get together at lunch again. It took a while to get used to the plastic barriers between us while we eat, but now it’s fine.

Mofe: I wake up around 9; do some stretches, look at my agenda. I make a granola parfait or go down to the dining hall for breakfast. And then I start working. I work 12 hours a day — first year science student! In the evening there are five or six of us on this floor who get together sometimes to have a games night, watch a movie.

Student grabbing fish and chips from the cafeteria

Gabriel: I go down for breakfast when I get hungry — not being on someone else’s schedule is really nice. I’ve found the food to be a lot better than I was expecting. I’m a big fan of the hot table. I get a lot of work done, text some friends every once in a while, try to get a home workout in. I’ll see people I know around dinnertime. Then if I’m done work for the day, I’ll play a video game, talk with a friend, get groceries.

Katrina: I wake up around 10 — I get a lot of sleep! Sometimes I see my don in the halls. She likes to write dad jokes on the whiteboard by the elevator every morning. I’ll get a little work done, go to lunch, then study in my room or the lobby or outside if the weather’s nice, and work until dinner. After dinner I’ll work more, or I’ll hang out with my friends at the university plaza, or go to the games room, or something like that.

Saad: I get my one-on-one meetings done in the morning — I have thirty residents, and I check in with each of them twice a term. After meetings I go exercise in CIF Gym. And after lunch I get my work done — there’s a lot of great study spots on campus. At night I might host a movie or game night with my students — we do that once every two weeks.


What’s the best thing about life in residence?

Katrina: Seeing my friends every day. I’ve made some of the best friends that I’ve ever had in residence. Having that proximity to friends is really great.

Three students playing games together in residence

Gabriel: Being liberated to do my own thing and have my own schedule and responsibilities — and being able to meet them at my own pace. It’s essential preparation for the rest of my own life. Building those habits and skills now makes the transition to living alone much smoother.


What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced living in residence?

Celina: It’s very important to show your concerns. If I’m sad, or worried about something, I’ll choose to talk to people.

Isaac: Knowing when to find time for yourself. It’s important to acknowledge your own social exhaustion.


Any advice for high school students who are thinking about taking the leap?

Katrina: If you can I would absolutely say move into residence. You get to meet so many people and being on campus all the time definitely has perks.

Isaac: Do a lot of research. Read discussion boards or even better, take a tour. Residences are all different — some are more academic focused, some about community — and it’s important to choose one that suits your personality.

Saad: Remember you can always ask your don for help — there are so many resources on campus.

Mofe: Just put yourself out there! Don’t be intimidated, because we’re all pretty nervous. Have an open mind, and you will be fine.


 
 
 

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