Leaving Halls
Time to Say Goodbye
If you’ve experienced hall life at uni, you know that the community spirit and connectedness you feel can be life-changing! Diverse friendships, seeking and giving help at a moment’s notice, spontaneous supper jios - living in close proximity to your peers is precious. When you have to leave - whether you’re graduating or facing other circumstances - it will be tough!
It will take time to adjust to leaving your community. We’ve come up with a few ways that you can work through this time, maintain some of the friendships you’ve made and create community again, wherever you end up!
Soak it In
When we’re in the midst of an enjoyable season, it’s easy to forget that it might end someday. Where you can, remember to take a minute to absorb the good vibes, commit them to memory and appreciate them while you have them! Take hold of every opportunity, and don’t hold back (within reason). When it’s over, it’ll be all the more precious to know that you made the most of it while it lasted.
Open Up
Struggling with the impending end of hall-life, but concerned because everyone else seems to be handling it well? Chances are, they’re struggling too. Don’t be afraid of opening up about what you’re feeling! You may very well find comfort and encouragement.
Make Plans
If you’re worried about losing touch with friends that you’ve become used to spending time with, don’t be afraid to make a ‘formal’ agreement to spend time together regularly! Committed friendships flourish when all parties put in the effort to maintain them. It may seem unnatural to schedule a standing monthly appointment to meet your friends, for example, but intentionality can only strengthen your friendship in the long-run.
Don’t close yourself off
Just because you don’t have your hall friends around you anymore doesn’t mean you’ll never experience close friendships again. Bring that openness and friendliness that you’ve learned to your lecture halls, your internships and other areas of your life! Carrying these lessons with you makes the time you spent with your hall community that much more meaningful.
Bring halls to your ‘hood!
Fun fact - Friendzone was started because our co-founders wanted to bring the kampung spirit that they experienced in halls to their own neighbourhoods! Join an event in your own ‘hood to meet new people who may have the same dreams for a tight-knit community as you do. You know it’s possible - let’s keep it going together.
