Second-year student Patrick sat down with us at Great Patrick Street, to tell all about his experience living in our Belfast student accommodation.
Here’s what he had to say…
Name: Patrick
University: Queen’s University
Studying: Law
Roost: Great Patrick Street
I was born in Cushendall. In sixth [form], I wasn't 100% set on anywhere, whether I was going to be sharing a house with mates or staying in private accommodation. Student Roost was something I'd heard of from the year above, and teachers were raving about it as well.
It's a very convenient and compact living experience that just makes everything so easy and effortless. And the location… it's just smack bang in the middle [of Belfast]. You’ve got everything you could possibly want, you know. There’s no need for you to be anywhere else, you wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
This is my second year of living at this property. And in my first year, I really wanted to throw myself into something totally different where I was living with random flatmates. I knew people that were going to be staying here, I knew people that were going to be living in the surrounding area, and I had no interest in coupling up with anyone because I just wanted to try something different and step out of my comfort zone.
There were friendships that I was bringing into this [second] year, and we were all rebookers but we decided mutually to do the exact same thing. Again, we were all going to keep different rooms and make different friend groups to tap into different social circles. Student Roost does really provide that flexibility on a social level, where you're going to have opportunities to meet friends, to engage in things that pique your social interests and to engage in clubs and societies. There [are] countless events, there is a gym, games rooms, there are so many opportunities to find people with common interests throughout Great Patrick Street.
Moving to Belfast, you're staying with flatmates who are in the exact same boat as you, and that shows from day dot. You know, there's such a great vibe on the first day of moving in, even this year as a second year and seeing all the freshers moving in – you can see how buzzing they are.
I've never once felt unsafe, they cater to your needs here [and] care for your security in this building in a relaxed manner, that doesn't make us feel suffocated. When you pay the money to stay away from home, you want it to feel like home. We don't want to feel captive in our own four walls, we want to have that freedom. And I think that's what sets [Great Patrick Street] apart.
The team are there to keep you humble, keep you grounded and to give you any support that you need at any time, [whether it’s] four o'clock in the afternoon or four o'clock in the morning. There's really no reason to feel any anxiety at all about moving to Belfast. By the end of your first night, this kind of does become your home very quickly, surprisingly so.
I just wanted to make sure that in first year, I was settled and comfy. That's why I came here. The facilities are totally jaw-dropping and in terms of what you're getting [like] all-inclusive bills, the gym, hosting kitchen, everything. I couldn't live in a house where I have to worry about heating and electricity.
It's about finding your own path, your own place. [Another] second year might not rebook Roost but I did – I'm here and I love it. You don't know how great you have it here.
I had forecasted a very smooth transition back into this year, I hadn't predicted any issues, any problems and I certainly didn't have any anxieties. But coming into this year wasn't exactly smooth sailing and readjusting to Belfast life [proved] difficult for me. I actually ended up taking myself home for a couple of weeks, just to try and get myself back in the headspace where I felt like I could live here independently.
The team out there on the front desk, they do care about people. They notice, whenever you're off; even if they don't know your name, they know your face, they know your routine. One thing about coming back is that they've made me feel really, really comfortable from the second I stepped foot back in the door, ‘Oh, you're back again’. They care and put things in place to make you feel comfortable like that. They're very personable people, it’s more than just a job: you could go and speak to them at any stage in the day about any issues you're having – whether it’s maintenance issues or social issues or just to get something off your chest, you know, in the afternoon or the evening time. You've got a great team around you here at Roost that really do have your best interests at heart.
Probably the events. And it's something that completely captivated me the first time I stepped foot here. The amount of effort for every single cultural holiday or event in a calendar year, they do not miss any – if it’s Ramadan or Christmas, Thanksgiving or Diwali. Some that I didn't have a clue about at age 16 or 17, but I do now, you know, and that's educational and totally invaluable. You can't put a price tag on breaking down cultural and social barriers between students, [and it] can certainly help you get settled in. If you're an international student or a mature student, the anxiety that you might have that your culture could be misunderstood or that you might not fit in, but with Student Roost it is a home away from home.
That's probably my favourite thing about Roost: no matter what day of the year it is, you'll never have to wonder for too long on what's going on in the world, or what's being celebrated or what there is to be thankful for. And I don't know how the team find the time because I don't think I've ever once caught them decorating but I go to bed at night. I wake up in the morning and the theme has changed. So there's something going on. It's the Santa effect!
Our wider friendship group used to bounce about between each other’s flats and we got sick of cleaning up after each other. So, we decided we were going to host a Christmas dinner and to encourage collective responsibility, we decided to go to the hosting kitchen. That's the one time we all sat down for dinner together. We cooked the turkey in there. We nearly cremated our turkey in there. We pulled through with a final product that was satisfactory, and it was a great experience. A lovely night.
Are you studying at Ulster or Queens University next year and feeling inspired by Patrick's resident experience? Check out our Belfast student accommodation, including Great Patrick Street and our most recent addition Nelson Place. We look forward to seeing you at a viewing!