Mason Harrison

I’d been looking at Loughborough since Year 11, before my GCSEs. I always wanted to go to university, but I never really knew where I wanted to go.

I remember seeing videos from the university on TikTok showing the sports facilities, campus and student life, and from then on I fell in love with the campus layout and atmosphere. Everything about it just felt comforting and manageable, which really helped because I was nervous about moving away from home.

Loughborough felt like the right balance for me. It’s close enough to home in Birmingham, it’s peaceful, and it felt safe straight away. My family agreed as well. Another big factor was that it’s a top university overall and for Psychology, while also being really accommodating with entry requirements and accepting my BTEC Level 3 qualifications.

Accommodation definitely influenced my decision to come here. I currently live in Claudia Parsons and honestly, it’s such a beautiful accommodation.

Everything feels modern, safe and high quality. The kitchen is spacious, my room has loads of storage and space, and having an en-suite made settling in so much easier. I was worried that moving away from home would feel uncomfortable, but instead it quickly started to feel homely.

The environment around Claudia Parsons, the common room, the staff and the atmosphere in general all made a huge difference. It helped me feel comfortable rather than wanting to go home or regretting moving away.

Living on campus made it so much easier to settle in and make friends. Everyone in the hall was friendly and being on campus means you’re constantly around people and activities.

I made most of my friends through my course, my flatmates and by joining hall committee. I also joined an e-sports society, which helped me branch out and meet even more people from different backgrounds and countries.

At home, I sometimes struggled with feeling isolated or like the odd one out, and there were times where I found it difficult to feel fully accepted or included as a gay man. Living in halls has really helped me grow in confidence and feel more comfortable being myself. It’s made a huge difference in helping me feel included and part of a community.

It’s helped me build a real sense of belonging, and I’ve found it much easier to be social and connect with people since being here.

Some of my favourite memories are honestly the simple things - sitting in the kitchen playing cards with my flatmates, having random flat meetings to laugh about something funny that happened on a night out, or meeting people unexpectedly.

I met one of my closest friends during a lecture because I offered her some crisps, and now I’m basically the adopted flatmate of their whole friendship group.

Living on campus also makes social life much easier because everything is nearby and within walking distance. It means I can get involved in events across campus and spend more time with friends without worrying about travelling around.

The support teams in halls have been amazing during my time here. The wardens, security, cleaning staff and disability support team have all been so understanding and supportive with my mental health.

Whether it’s been a casual conversation or something more serious, they’ve always made me feel listened to and included.

Now that I’ve experienced hall life, staying in halls feels like the easier and less stressful option for me.

Being on campus, having security and support available, and not having to worry about house bills or managing issues in a shared house makes a huge difference. It means I can focus more on my degree and enjoy university life without unnecessary stress.

Moving into halls is scary - I won’t lie. When I first moved in, I got really upset and even considered going home.

But once you stay and settle in, it honestly becomes such an amazing experience.

My biggest advice would be to talk to your flatmates, even if it’s only little conversations at first. That’s how friendships start. My first nights out were with my flatmates, and I even met more friends through them afterwards.

Everyone is in the same situation and feeling nervous too. Once you spend more time together, things quickly become less awkward and start to feel natural.

The best thing about living in halls is having your own secure space while also being surrounded by people going through the same experience as you.

You’re close to everything on campus, support is always nearby, and there’s so much less stress compared to managing a house with other people in first year.

The friends and confidence I’ve gained through living in halls are things I honestly couldn’t imagine university without now.