For many, the opportunity to attend university and live away from home is promising and alluring. With high anticipation of newfound freedom, it is apparent that living on residence is a truly unique and wonderful experience. At the University of Guelph, there are a variety of different residences that each have their own perks and benefits—however, this article will focus on the common experiences and the available resources that students can expect and rely on when living in residence.
While living on-campus may seem like a trivial and excessive experience to many, it is undeniable that the environment you are living in during your first year has a tremendous impact on your social life, well-being, and academic pursuits. The freedom gained from living in residence is indeed liberating, however, it comes with a lot of responsibilities and expectations that can sometimes be overwhelming for new students.
The U of G has a dedicated amount of resources set towards ensuring that the transition from living at home to living in residence is a smooth one. With resources like Student Housing Services and Residence Life, the opportunity to enjoy your first year of university to its full potential is attainable. In an interview with The Ontarion, Lindsay Winger, the acting associate director of Residence Life, spoke to the importance of living in residence and its ability to fundamentally shape your university experience.
“Residence living is a wonderful experience, but its success is dependent on adherence to the structure provided by Residence Living Community Standards and mutual cooperation with other residence students and staff,” said Winger. “Residence is unique in that there is a built-in support system to help students be successful… Many students will experience an adjustment phase with living in new surroundings and with new people, but both staff in and outside of residence are ready to support students with whatever needs they may have.”
While you will continue to learn new things about your residence and the U of G throughout your first few weeks on-campus, one of the most crucial aspects of enjoying your university experience involves knowing what resources are available to you. Specifically, while adjusting to living in residence, there are a variety of resources available to help you.
“The most prominent service Student Housing provides is the Residence Life Staff (RLS), who are a critical presence within our residence communities. RLS are there to befriend students, cultivate relationships, orient them to U of G, provide support and referrals, respond to crisis and safety concerns, and ultimately, build the foundation to a great experience,” said Winger, regarding the services available to students in residence. “In general, the Residence Life program provides ways for students to meet others through numerous activities and events, help with stress management through workshops, yoga classes, or the Residence Intramural program, and support with academic coursework and study skills.”
From the excitement of move-in day, followed by incredible O-Week activities, meeting new friends, finding your classes, and exploring the campus space, there are a lot of new experiences that you will be exposed to in a very short period of time. Amidst all of the excitement, it is important to stay grounded and prepared in order to avoid becoming overwhelmed and disoriented.
“I think one of the best things students can do is to think about what expectations they may have about living in residence and then take some time to reflect on how realistic these may be,” said Winger, when asked about how student can prepare for life in residence. “It may take some time to adjust to university—and that’s completely okay. Incoming students can also take advantage of the online programs offered and take some time to talk to others who have lived in residence about their experience. Adjusting to life both inside and outside of the classroom is an important step for any student—so give yourself permission to take the time to learn about the residence experience. Come with an open mind, get involved and ask for help when you need it.”
About
The Ontarion publishes independent, student-produced news, opinion, and commentary for University of Guelph students so that they can make informed decisions in their lives. To do this, The Ontarion provides learning opportunities and training in journalism, media production, leadership, board governance, and other aspects of nonprofit news.
The Ontarion is the University of Guelph’s independent student newspaper. It began in 1951 as part of the Ontario Agricultural College and then began to represent the entire University of Guelph once it amalgamated in 1964. The Ontarion incorporated in May 1970 as The Ontarion, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation registered with the province of Ontario.