Diary of an introveRHt RHesident: Can introverts thrive in RH?
- Rayden
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
As I started typing this story from the comfort of my bed on a Wednesday night, my phone began buzzing incessantly, tempting me to check what was going on online. But I knew better than to give in: After all, I've received this same flurry of messages yesterday, the day before, and nearly everyday over the past 6 weeks in hall, and I had already caved in twice this week alone.
One hour later, I heaved a sigh of relief as I finally saw the two words I had waited for: “Order closed.” 4 other chats, each with orders for I’m Acai, Al Amaans, McDonalds and Fong Seng Nasi Lemak followed soon after with the same message.
Most of us get “jio”s for supper almost everyday from our CCA mates, blockmates and other friends, but there is definitely a minority who may not know anyone in hall to receive such invites, or even if they do, they may not feel close enough to other RHesidents to join them.
After all, many events organised in RH are social in nature. Whether it is IBG, with the clanging pots and pans, or okRH, where you’re paired with strangers in hall to complete challenges together, most hall events would require one to step out of their comfort zone and meet many unfamiliar faces. But for the RHesident who stays in their room 80% of the time, that can be asking for a lot.
And while it’s perfectly fine for some to stay within their own comfortable space, the problem snowballs when they want to make friends later. By then, it feels like everyone already knows each other, because most RHesidents would go for hall events with their friends anyway.
As an introvert myself, I’m not the type to respond to every single “jio”. Sure, academic commitments sometimes get in the way, but admittedly, there were also times when I was free to join blockmates for dinner at the Comm Hall or study together with them at the Upper Lounge, yet chose to skip those gatherings for some me-time.
And there is nothing inherently wrong with that. But in university, where everyone has their own commitments and their own lives to live, we do need to explicitly carve out time to be spent with our friends, and the same applies to our friendships outside of hall.
I was attending my block’s Angel & Mortal closing ceremony two weeks prior, excited to see the faces behind all the devious pranks and wholesome welfare. While I expected most of the pranks to come from the more outgoing block members, I was surprised to see many unfamiliar faces amongst the angels and mortals, sneakily raising their hands when asked to be identified. And while their deeds shall remain a noble secret, I would say some really went all-out with their efforts.
Also, in speaking to some of the quieter members of my block over the past few weeks, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that most of them were really friendly and open to chat, even if it was just a passing conversation on the way to the shower.
Some might ask “If you’re not here to socialise, then why even consider hall in the first place?”, but I believe that this mindset is misplaced. Introverts may not be there for every single hall event, or know every single person in hall, but they would show up for events meaningful to them, and stay close with a selected few. Like everyone in hall, they too want to enjoy a fulfilling hall life, rather than stay as “phantoms” for the year ahead.
So if you haven’t spoken to your next-door neighbour since school started, or if you see the same person always going to the gym or the dining hall alone, perhaps it wouldn't hurt to be the one taking the first step!
For those who may be worried about having to socialise in hall events, there are plenty of events that are fun and will not drain your social battery. Take Block 8’s recent “mid 8tumn” festival for example: Whether you made your own boba tea or mooncakes, filmed cool shots with sparkles or enjoyed their minigames, it was the perfect way to unwind after a busy start to the semester.
To those who may still be finding your community in RH, it’s never too late to attend your first hall event, find new dinner buddies, or respond to the next Amaans open jio. Make new memoRHies, and leave no RHegrets!