By Sreesha Gupta

2nd Year, CSE.

If you’re reading this, there are chances that either you’re a student leaving for hostel soon, currently living in a hostel, or simply an ex-hosteller reminiscing the good old days. Going off to college often entails trading the comforts of home for a different life altogether where we have to fend for ourselves. New city, new friends, new experiences, new responsibilities are just glimpses of what awaits you. One of the biggest changes that occur in the life of most students is shifting to college hostels. The nervousness and anxiety of having to move to a different city and sharing your room with a stranger all fade away in the excitement of the freedom that college life offers.

            ‘Home away from home’

Feeling homesick? The mere thought of being so far away from home is foreboding. However, hostel life isn’t all bad. Before you know it, you’ll see that your hostel is a home away from home. In fact, the advantages frequently outweigh the disadvantages in this case. Hostellers learn about independence, finance, management, and much more, but most importantly they learn about life.

Also, we realize how ghar ka khaana is the best in the world.

The Humble Abode.

Hostel life, living in a room with roommates, teaches us the art of living. That is, living with others and the joys of sharing. Can’t find your shirt after you left it to dry? *Finds a roommate wearing it*

‘Being considerate of others will take you further in life than a college degree’

This is the biggest takeaway one can get from living in a hostel. At the end of the day, we adapt to our roommates and make ourselves comfortable, creating a bond with the people around us to make our lives easier. The long late-night conversations, sharing everything from books to shampoo, and the daily battle for the washroom are things that bring people close in an unforgettable and unbreakable way. Some are fun and act like clowns to spread joy, some share their wisdom and help others. The memories a hosteller creates with the friendship they have, stay with them for a very long period of their lives. It is always cheerful to have someone to have our back when we need it!

The Mess.

The first thing that comes to mind after hearing the word “hostel” is the mess. The abode of “delicious” food is one of a kind (in the literal sense!). No master chef can whip out such delicacies. The dosas and puris are like boats floating on water, except that the water here is oil. But all jokes aside, the best thing about KIIT mess is that they listen to the children. If we want pasta, we get it! There is something for everyone here, and I, being an extremely picky eater, am actually pretty satisfied with the food provided. During this lockdown, there are days when I wake up and crave some of the butter chicken that was our ‘Sunday Special’ back in the hostel.

Group Study is the way to go!

You’re missing out if you live in a hostel and haven’t tried group study even once. Group study is both enjoyable and beneficial because when one person is not in the mood, the others can be the motivators. Simultaneously, joking around and listening to songs together while studying is something that one should never miss out on. Studying was never this easy. For people who actually know how to go for smart work, having roommates with the same talent comes as a blessing in disguise. During exams, it becomes easier to complete the subjects together.

Alone? What’s that?

In hostel, you’ll literally never be alone. Even if your roommates have gone off home, or maybe outside, there are always a hundred other people whose room you can go to, to just talk about random stuff. Being a hosteller, introvert or extrovert, you can’t help but know a lot of people. Be it going to random seniors for help with studies or reference books, or making friends with your entire floor in the daily bathroom struggle, we can’t help making friends with the most unexpected people. Living with friends makes us forget what it’s like to be alone, and this is something you’ll certainly miss when it’s time to graduate.

Learning to be Thrifty.

Money management comes naturally to you because you are usually broke. You learn to value the little things in life. Being away from home makes you realize that money is not in infinite supply, and actually having to visit the ATM teaches us the pain of being broke. When we’re not at home, we start to realize exactly how much we’re spending, and saying “I have no money right now” becomes normal towards the end of the month. Although it is our parents’ money we’re using, it’s our account which becomes empty every so often, and spending wisely is better than feeling the embarrassment of asking parents for money every few days. This teaches us to be careful much before we have to experience being truly broke when we start working. All in all, it is a good learning experience.

If we talk about KIIT hostels, I can tell you I have had some of the best memories there. Most parents are hesitant to send their precious kids off to hostels in fear of ragging. But KIIT being an anti-ragging University, takes care of that terror. The seniors are so friendly and helpful, you’ll never feel like a deer in headlights, all lost and alone. It will not take more than 3 months to befriend the wardens, and soon you’ll be sneaking off to get food from the nearby food courts! And yes, as stereotypical as it may sound, making Maggi at 2 in the morning with your roommates as you prepare for the dooming exams is a different experience altogether.

I believe you have to experience hostel life once in your life. How to handle situations when you are alone, how to get along with others when you are sharing a room with them. You tend to be less selfish and understand what is sharing. More than anything, hostellers learn to adjust with anyone and anything. They become independent and are ready to take on the big bad world. It’s not just a fun experience to live with friends for several years; it also teaches us much more about life than any class or lecture ever could.