Home from home
As a Living Support Assistant, Eleni Christoforidou lives and works at the Queen Margaret Residences. Now in her fifth and final year, Eleni looks back on her time at the residence.
Tell us about the job.
As soon as the office closes down at the end of the day, we take over. It’s a rewarding job because you interact with other students. You learn what’s going on in the place you live.
Why are residences a good environment for making friendships?
Suddenly you’re away from everyone from home, and because everyone here is going through the same thing you have something in common. You bond with each other and you learn from each other. If someone is really good at cooking, for example, then you can learn from them.
Have you learned any new recipes?
I knew how to cook before coming here, but I did teach my flatmates a few traditional things that I cook back home [Cyprus], for example, an egg and lemon soup.
What’s been your most memorable experience?
We had a welcome party for the new arrivals, with pizza, music and PS4 games. A lot of students came and I met my new flatmates. Every year new students come in and all my previous flatmates move on and I’m alone again. It’s good to meet new people and make new friends every year.
Are there some challenges?
This residence is mostly for first year students, but the living support assistants are usually later-year undergraduates or even postgraduate students. They have more studying to do. First year students, on the other hand, enjoy being away from their parents and being independent for the first time in their life. That's one challenge. As a living support assistant, when someone is making noise late at night, I have to go and tell them they’re disturbing their neighbours who are trying to either sleep or study.
How do you relax in the residences?
During the Christmas holidays, I stayed here. I didn't go back home because I had a lot of study to do. To take a break from my studies, I went to the lounge with my friends. We played Connect Four and Cluedo. We also borrowed the PS4 and played Guitar Hero.
What will you miss about living here?
I will miss all the social events. The weekly movie nights, for example, with snacks and drinks. And the themed parties like Halloween parties. If I live on my own next year, I'm going to basically be alone.
Share your stories
We’d love to hear about the clubs, societies and groups you joined as a student here. Tell us about the people you met, the things you did and the memories you have. We’re hoping that if enough of you respond, we could share your experiences in a future Avenue feature.
Email your story to us, along with a picture if you have one.
