A Year in Student Housing: The Good, The Bad, and The Hilarious

Student housing: where memories are made, friendships are tested, and, where you sometimes question your life choices. But as they say, it’s all part of the student experience.

 Whether you’re living in a shared apartment, student hostel, or private room, there’s always something interesting happening. It’s a world of chaos, comfort, and comedy. So, what does a year in student housing really look like

The Good: The Perks of Student Housing

1. The Social Life

Student housing is where you’ll meet people from all walks of life. Your neighbors become your friends, and your hallmates become your community. When you're in a shared space, there’s always someone to chat with, whether it’s about life, uni, or that spicy k-drama on Netflix.

2. Convenience & Accessibility

Being close to campus? Game changer. No more scrambling for transport or running late for a class because you can roll out of bed, brush your teeth, and boom you’re there. Plus, the whole “I forgot to buy groceries” problem is solved with stores and shops on-site (or at least within walking distance).

3. Affordable Living

For many students, the price of student housing is usually more affordable than renting privately. The water, light and other bills are often included, and honestly, when your budget is tight, that all-inclusive rent feels like a blessing.

4. Learning to Live Independently

Student housing forces you to become self-sufficient. You learn how to cook (well, attempt to), do laundry without turning everything black, fix a bulb and maybe drill a nail into the wall. It’s a year of growth, responsibility, and... survival skills.

The Bad: The Struggles of Student Housing

1. Noise, Noise, Noise

Whether it’s your roommate blasting music, neighbors arguing over who the best actor is in a series, or someone holding an impromptu vigil at 3 AM, the noise is real. If you’ve ever struggled to get a full night’s sleep, you know exactly what I mean. It’s the price you pay for living with 50+ people who also have their own schedules (and sometimes questionable priorities).

2. Roommates and the Unspoken Drama

Roommates: They can be your friends, but they can also be your worst nightmare. The passive-aggressive behavior, the weird smells coming from someone’s room/side, and the never-ending search for your missing lighter/matches. Trust me, you’ll never truly understand the value of your own space until you’ve lived with a roommate who uses “just borrowing” as a reason to swipe your stuff.

3. Limited Privacy

The one thing you quickly learn in student housing? Privacy is a luxury. Whether you’re living in a shared room or just in a hostel with 7 other people, there’s no such thing as ‘personal space’. You’ll find yourself getting creative with where you hide your stuffs to avoid it being meddled with.

The Hilarious: The Moments That Will Make You Laugh (and Cry)

1. The Epic Kitchen Fails

At least once during your stay, you’ll try cooking a meal that’s completely out of your comfort zone. And it’ll go wrong. 

Maybe you try to make an ofada or ewa agoyin sauce and the whole room goes kaboom! But hey, it’s all part of the journey; and if you don’t burn your dinner, did you even live in student housing?

2. The 2 AM Drama

There’s always a story that involves someone yelling across the hall at 2 AM because there is a rat in the room or a thief tries to steal something and gets caught. And then, the entire dorm ends up in a circle, half awake, watching the “drama unfold.” These moments are part of the strange charm of student housing; you’ve have to laugh or else you’ll cry.

3. The “I’ve Never Seen You Before” Encounter

Ah, the awkwardness of running into someone in the hallway and thinking, "I’ve lived with you for months and never seen your face before." Student housing always seems to bring you closer to strangers who somehow become your closest pals in the weirdest of ways.

Yes, student housing isn’t always perfect. There’s noise, awkward moments, and maybe even some questionable cooking smells. But in the end, it’s an experience that shapes you and creates memories you’ll look back on with a smile. Whether you’re laughing at the absurdity of it all or figuring out how to survive another roommate conflict, student housing is where you’ll learn, grow, and live out some of your best stories.