My Favourite Residence Events & the Residence Experience

Author: Will Lint
Posted on July 28, 2020

Moving away from home can be very daunting, especially if you’re living with a group of people that you’re unfamiliar with. Although this is a rational fear for all incoming students staying in residence, this experience is unforgettable. While living in residence I have made friends and memories to last a lifetime.

Although all the details of the fall are a bit uncertain, one of the most memorable residence experiences has got to be Orientation. Do not worry, there will be an Orientation, it just may look a bit different. If you talk to any student in residence, one of Orientation week’s top 3 events would include Karaoke BBQ. All residences choreograph a dance to compete against other residences and orientation groups at Swan Pond. You start to practice the dance very early in the week so the ice gets broken a bit when you see all your peers participating and acting silly. The people I danced alongside in those practices are some of my closest friends to this day. Another exciting aspect of Karaoke BBQ is that it introduces you to residence rivalries and house spirit. Within days you feel very attached to your house and the people inside it. Karaoke BBQ is a perfect kick-start to loving your residence, getting to know your housemates, and the general excitement of your first year at Mount Allison.

Orientation week can be a bit overwhelming at times but some of my favourite nights in residence were the low-key events put on by house staff where you bond with your house. A few of the most wholesome events I remember from residence were weekly movie nights and coffee houses. These moments are so precious because you feel like you’re just hanging out with one big family enjoying each other’s company.

Living in residence is such a special experience. I can vividly remember the first moments I met my neighbors, ate in meal hall, went to a res party, and when I sadly had to leave. For me and many others, residence is your home and your family while you’re away at university. You develop a bond and attachment to your res, something you will always have. I wish I could relive every night and every experience I had in residence. It may be scary at first, but I promise living in residence will be the most fun you’ve ever had.

Photo: Harper Hall during Orientation 2019