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I’ve spent a fair amount of my life living out of suitcases and moving boxes.
Having lived all over the world, I’ve learned that “home” is a bit of a flexible concept. It’s not a fixed single destination.
Why I chose Vita Student
I moved into Vita Student for my first year. After moving around so much, I wanted something that felt settled and straightforward while I figured out the rhythm of uni life.
It was a soft landing.
At Vita, a lot of things are taken care of, such as weekday breakfast and a shuttle bus which takes you to the majority of the University of Sheffield buildings.
As much as I enjoyed Vita, I felt the need to try the “authentic” second year experience in a shared house.
On the whole, it was a great experience. But the charm of living in a draughty Victorian terrace wears off quickly when you’re arguing over the heating bill or trying to find a clean corner of the kitchen to make toast.
Vita removes all of that friction.
A heartfelt homecoming
By the time my final year rolled around, I knew I needed a different environment to hit my goals of getting a first-class degree.
I decided to move back to Telephone House, and it was even better than I expected. It felt like returning to a place that actually understands the balancing act of being a student.
What I love most about Vita Student is just how easy day to day life has become. There’s no worrying about the Wi-Fi dropping out when job searching or working on a paper.
The study rooms gave me the quiet space I needed to focus on my dissertation.
Vita’s Special social scene
There’s always something going on at Telephone House.
In particular, I’d regularly attend the near-weekly cooking classes. They became an escape for me, a way for me to destress from a long, busy day at university. Chef Dave is so good at making everyone feel capable, even when you don’t necessarily have any cooking experience. I still recreate his recipes now!
The reason I loved the cooking classes so much was how it helped me meet my neighbours. I had so much fun meeting new friends over the stove. It really made the building feel like a community rather than just a block of studios.
The cocktail classes and beauty events were also a real highlight for me. After a week of academic rigour, being able to pivot to something creative or relaxing right in my own building was a massive luxury that I definitely didn’t have during my year in the house share.
A thriving international community
Being multilingual means I really value the international atmosphere here.
You hear so many different languages in the Hub. It reminded me of the other places I’ve lived around the world. It’s a warm and relatable environment where you can strike up a conversation with someone from halfway across the globe while waiting for the lift.
I learnt so much about different cultures, and met people that I’ll consider friends for life. All of that wouldn’t have been possible with Vita Student.
My advice to other international students
Don’t need to feel like you have to follow the ‘traditional’ student path just because everyone else is doing it.
Your environment has a massive impact on your mental health and your grades. Choose the place that lets you be the best version of yourself.
Coming back to Telephone House was my full circle moment. It was my way of prioritising my own peace of mind for the final stretch of my degree.
Looking back now, I wouldn’t change a thing.
