My moving-in experience
Hi, my name is Jessica, and I’m a first-year Creative Writing and English Literature student here at YSJ. Moving into your university accommodation is a big moment in your university journey; moving to a new city and living alone. Moving into your university flat isn’t a walk in the park; it can feel rushed, chaotic even, but that’s okay!
My moving-in experience was a rollercoaster. I was panicking that everything would not fit in the car. As we were trying to pack the car, one of my storage bags ripped! Luckily, the trip wasn’t too bad. Everything got in the car in the end! (I got buried in bags in the backseat).
The big day
Arriving at my accommodation and walking into my flat was one of the most exciting moments I can recall from university life. It’s such a surreal moment when you realise that you’re at university, in accommodation, in a new city. It is the perfect blend of nervousness and excitement.
When we got to my room and began unpacking, I started to panic again as I realised there were many things I needed in that moment, or I realised how much I had forgotten to bring. After this point, I accepted that moving in was not going to be the nice, calm and easy task I had been imagining. It’s easy to become discouraged when things don’t turn out the way you expect, but it’s important to look past those failed expectations and make something enjoyable of it.
I really loved my family helping me unpack and organise my space, and I loved being able to put up photos and posters to make the room feel like it’s mine. Also, all those things I forgot, we got them when we went to the supermarket to do my first food shop!
Over the next few days after moving in, I started to fill my room with things that made it feel more homely and like my room and not a university accommodation. I brought fake plants, fairy lights, blankets, more posters, and so much more.
Top tips
- Create a list of everything you need to bring
- Create a separate list of everything you can just buy after your moved in
- Label all your boxes and bags so you know what’s in what (Kitchen, Clothes etc)
- Use vacuum seal bags for clothes and bedding (These can be purchased on Amazon)
- Bring things that remind you of home (Photos, trinkets etc)
And remember…
It is important to remember that others will be feeling exactly as you. Moving in is an overwhelming experience no matter how hard you plan, but you can take some steps to make it easier; like the ones i listed above. Remember, not everything will go as you expected, but sometimes that is good, as it makes you look back more fondly on the experience and makes for great memories. I look back on my experiences moving in and cannot help but laugh at how worried I was, knowing everything would be all right in the end.
Find out more about accommodation at York St John here: https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/study/accommodation/
