Te ora ki ngā wharenoho

Life in the Halls

Waipārūrū Hall President Jean-Daniel Rosset loved hall life this year, despite the occasional plot twist!

He shares his thoughts on move-in day antics, finding balance in your everyday life, and the perks of five tasty meal options a day. Take it away Jean-Daniel…

University is a new chapter in our lives and the opening gateway to our future successes.

It can be an exciting experience to transition from the normality of your current lives but also daunting and nerve-racking as university life encourages and guides you into adulthood and exposes you to the opportunities that await you. I have been fortunate enough to have spent my first year at University in a fully catered student residence. Waipārūrū Hall; the newest addition to the University of Auckland student accommodation fleet, and the largest fully catered student hall in Australasia. With its elegant highrise double tower design, spacious modern bedrooms and facilities, and the exceptional dining hall, my hall has been at the forefront of some of the best memories and experiences I have encountered as a freshman.

First-day antics were as expected.

Coming from a small town, I did not know anyone, and Auckland itself was also foreign. I did not know what to expect nor how to feel as there was an excess of different emotions, with excitement being the foundation. Immediately once settled in, you automatically become more comfortable, and you’re put at ease. The residential advisors are excellent catalysts for making your arrival and first couple weeks a smooth and enjoyable introduction into residential and University life. Rest assured that despite where you may have come from, what past experience you may have, what you are studying, and despite your interests and opinions, there is always someone there to guide you and help you along. Making friends was instantaneous, and without me even realising within the first weeks, everyone had created strong friendships. Everyone was in the same boat, so no one had to be afraid to be sociable and friendly. My floor has become like a family and my hall like a community. With everyone looking out for one another and supporting each other, the networks that you form throughout the hall are endless. Furthermore, it becomes natural to be attracted to likeminded people and you find yourself not only engaging with your newly formed friendships but you begin to expand on that and create connections with your faculty, by this I mean, one’s interactions with other floors and halls increases as you begin to form study groups with others studying the same things as you.

By no means has this year been perfect.

In fact, it has been one of the most difficult and unpredictable times for everyone. Not ideal, to say the least. With the Covid-19 pandemic sending New Zealand into lockdown, University into closure, and our entire nation into uncertainty, we have managed to still, despite everything, keep moving forward and onwards. Waipārūrū and the other halls did an outstanding job during these times. The daily activities, games, and projects hosted by the accommodation staff were excellent distractors and a great method to keep the residents happy and busy. The constant check-ups from your RAs ensured that you were coping and provided endless support, encouragement, and suggestions that continued to boost the overall student moral. Despite being in lockdown, no one was alone. We were in isolation, but we were not isolated. Obviously, some chose to stay in halls over the lockdown period while others opted to return home. This separation of the halls divided the student cohort apart. However, due to the strong friendships and networks that were established, everyone found a way to stay connected with their floors and hall. Through the means of social media and other platforms, a “Virtual Hall” was created in a sense that you were only a click of a button away from engaging with your friends. University for most became extremely challenging with the shift to online learning, and many found it increasingly difficult to stay motivated and engaged. The amazing thing about the University of Auckland and the accommodations team is their rapid ability to react to change. Extra courses, information sessions, and numerous other activities were provided for us to allow us to be educated on how to manage and cope with this new idea of “Virtual University”. Everything the accommodation team could have done to help us; they indeed did implement it.

Due to the strong friendships and networks that were established, everyone found a way to stay connected with their floors and hall.

The first year in halls is filled with learning curves, life lessons, and endless opportunities.

All of these are chances for you to grow as a person, not just physically but also mentally. Being away from home really boosts your maturity, problem-solving skills, and instinct also. One learns to become more independent and less reliant on others. The first washing load I did in halls proved I had no idea, as I was greeted with a whole pile of shrunk belongings! You learn how to manage your money wisely and how to budget. You become experienced with prioritisation and time management as your schedule fills up with social, sport, and academic involvement. There are systems and groups set in place where you can be educated through the hall and taught all this while other lessons you learn along the way. Your first year in the hall is all about finding a balance and what best works for you. Inter-residential sports, debating, talent shows, music, cooking, designing… the list goes on, there is an opportunity for everyone to be involved within the hall. Something for everyone, essentially the hall is an ocean of possibility, and all you have to do is choose what you would like to be involved with. Incorporation, integration, and participation are all active components of the hall spirit. My advice would be to take the risk, take the opportunities, and get involved. There is no downside to being active, but the benefits are rewarding.

Waipārūrū hall has been fantastic!

Who wouldn’t love five meal options to choose from every lunch and dinner? Games room, music rooms, and a communal kitchen that’s open to all. Study rooms, relaxation areas, and bathrooms with your own private stall. It’s a comfortable student luxury, one to take on board, free laundry, free gym, and free tutoring, which can’t be ignored. With University Hall Towers being our sister hall, we have formed numerous collaborations with them, such as our First-year Ball. A great way of expanding intercommunication. I was honoured to be elected the hall president of Waipārūrū Hall for 2020, so I can say that on behalf of the vast majority of the resident association, despite the disruptions that Covid has caused us, our first year at University and within the halls has been an experience to be remembered. Of course, there have been some pros and cons, but overall the friendships, memories, events, and experiences that we have been exposed to ore endured in the hall outweigh the negatives! I can trust that some of the lessons I have learned some of the friendships I have made will stick with me into the future.