Get to know your Residence Life Assistants at City Gateway!

We recently asked the Residence Life Assistants at City Gateway to tell us a bit about themselves and what they offer in halls at City Gateway.

Meet Your RLAs: City Gateway

Moving into halls is an exciting step, and we're here to help you make the most of it!

We're your ResLife Assistants (RLAs) for City Gateway this year. As a team of student ambassadors, we're dedicated to helping you settle into your new home, connect with other students and enjoy your university experience.

Throughout the year, we'll be running free ResLife events, as well as visiting residents to say hello and check in. From Welcome Week activities to social events and community-building opportunities, we're here to help make your time at City Gateway the best it can be.

What do RLAs do?

RLAs help create a welcoming and supportive community in halls by:

• Organising free social events throughout the year
• Helping new students settle into university life
• Visiting residents and getting to know their communities
• Signposting students to support and wellbeing services
• Creating opportunities to make friends and get involved

Read on to find out more about us, and don't forget to say hello when you see us around City Gateway. We can't wait to meet you!

Your Events Team

Aeysha (She/Her)

📍 Hometown: London
🎓 Course: 2nd Year Biomedical Sciences
🎉 Team: Events
📚 Hobbies: Reading, watching films and TV shows, walking, running and learning new skills

Three words that describe me: Resourceful, kind, patient

My message to you:
"Living in halls was something I truly enjoyed because it helped me feel more comfortable and settled. Coming to university can feel nerve-racking at first, but there are lots of socials and events designed to help you meet new people. Remember, you're not the only person feeling nervous about starting university. We're all in this together!"

Rhianna (She/Her)

📍 Hometown: London
🎓 Course: 2nd Year Biomedical Science
🎉 Team: Events
🎤 Hobbies: Singing and baking

Three words that describe me: Funny, kind, approachable

My message to you:
"Hey incoming Freshers! Welcome to the University of Southampton and City Gateway! Moving to university can feel exciting and a little daunting at the same time, but I promise that before long Southampton will start to feel like a second home. One of the best things about starting university is knowing that you're not alone. Everyone is looking to make friends, settle in and find their place. My biggest advice is to say yes to new opportunities, whether that's attending events, joining societies, or simply introducing yourself to the people around you. Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Most importantly, be kind to yourself during the transition. It takes time to adjust, and that's completely normal. I can't wait to welcome you to City Gateway!"

Your Outreach Team

Jaheda (She/Her)

📍 Hometown: London
🎓 Course: 1st Year Medicine
🤝 Team: Outreach
🎵 Hobbies: Hair and makeup, reading and listening to music

Three words that describe me: Open, conversational, calm

My message to you:
"City Gateway is one of the best places to live, with great transport links and plenty of things to do nearby. You'll make great friends in your accommodation, and I think it's safe to say you'll wish you could stay here again!"

Tinodaishe (She/Her)

📍 Hometown: Bedford, England
🎓 Course: 2nd Year Mechanical Engineering
🤝 Team: Outreach
🎬 Hobbies: Watching films, going to the cinema and reading books, especially dystopian and literary fiction

Three words that describe me: Relaxed, charismatic, wise

My message to you:
"I struggled a lot during my first semester, and the one thing that finally helped me feel like I belonged was leaving my room and getting involved in events. Sometimes just being surrounded by other people can make you feel less alone, so come along to as many events as you can."

Come and Say Hello!

You'll see us around City Gateway throughout the year, whether we're hosting events, running activities or dropping by on outreach visits. Please feel free to stop us for a chat, ask questions or find out more about what's happening in halls.

You can find all upcoming ResLife events on Halls Life and in the MySouthampton app, so be sure to check regularly and get involved!

We look forward to meeting you soon.