Staff Writer Polly Symes reflects on her experience living in a King’s Residences in her first-year, and offers her advice on how to make the most of the experience.
To all freshers: welcome to King’s College London! If you are reading this, you may have moved into one of the 12 King’s Residences: Angel Lane, Atlas, Battersea, Canada Water, Great Dover Street, Hayloft Point, Julian Markham, Moonraker Point, Orchard Lisle and Iris Brook, Stamford Street Apartments (lucky things), Vega, or Wolfson House.
Living in King’s accommodation can be a blessing. If you click with your flatmates, you gain a free friend – and may feel less pressure to join multiple societies or live on campus.
For some, it’s a trial. This was certainly my experience. I moved in having just broken up with my boyfriend (very cliché, I know) and was hoping that my flat in Moonraker Point would be a solace from London’s bustle. However, my flatmates and I did not gel: where I wanted to share meals together, they preferred to cook and eat alone, where I wanted to do ‘group cleans’, they would leave a mess. Even small talk in the kitchen was a struggle – and then came the mice.
So, you’ve just moved in, and your flatmates aren’t for you. How are you going to get through the next nine months? Here is the advice that I wish I’d had.
1. Don’t expect too much
When I moved in, I hoped for a group dinner and a group clean once a week. That proved unrealistic. Quickly, three flatmates formed a clique; two rarely left their rooms. If you expect nothing from your flatmates, you will never be disappointed – only positively surprised.
2. Protect your peace and honour
If things aren’t working, let it go. To preserve your dignity, you may have to accept that the situation in your flat is not what you’d hoped it would be. Move on to bigger and brighter things and don’t waste your energy.
3. Be brave
If you don’t have close friends in the flat, put your energy outside it. That may mean going to events alone at first. Take a deep breath before you walk into a room, and remember that everyone is in the same boat. And try not to use your phone as a buffer – talk to people!
4. Loosen the purse strings
If you don’t get on with your flat, it is likely that you’ll be spending more time outside of it. A King’s Kitchen lunch with course-mates matters. Do not beat yourself up over that £2 jacket potato!
5. Hang out on campus
Don’t wait for your lectures and seminars to go to campus. Aim for a Monday-Friday routine where you spend most of the time in those days on campus, and then spend the weekends closer to home. If that sounds tiring, remember that being at university does not equate to studying 24/7. The Vault and Guy’s Bar are both lovely spaces to spend time in with friends (and eat some curly fries!)
6. Join a sports team
I was reluctant to join a sports team because of the dreaded commute. I wish I’d got over that – I could have had a lot more fun sooner! Soon, taking the bus to your football training becomes part of the team experience, and letting off steam in a green environment will provide you with mental (and physical) health benefits that cannot be underestimated.
7. Join a music society
These societies have reputations for being welcoming communities. I know I had a lovely time with GKT Choir and will be returning there in my second year. Any joining fee you have to pay will definitely be worth it.
8. Cross your fingers for better luck in second year!
If you have done all of the above, the only thing left to do is aggressively manifest a better situation for next year. I myself am living in the KCL Canada Water residence (what a gorgeous place), and, thanks to the hard work I put in last year, now have amazing friends around me to help handle the challenges that London throws my way!
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