When I arrived at StepHouse at the beginning of the academic year, I was just looking for a modern student residence, close to the university, with a good atmosphere and where I wouldn't have to fight over the washing machine. Sleep well, study in peace, and little else. I wasn't expecting anything else at all.

But, without having planned it... I started to freak out about everything that was happening to me.

I arrived without knowing anyone, and within two days, I already had a group to eat with, study with, laugh with, and complain about the teachers when they gave us a ton of homework. Everything was super natural, without forced conversations or the typical "I'm going to try to fit in."

That, for me, is key to life in a student residence: feeling comfortable without having to put on an act.

The most remarkable thing is that, without realizing it, I began to improve in areas I didn't even know were important: communicating better, organizing myself so I wouldn't collapse, working with other residents without wanting to disappear from the face of the earth...

Without meaning to, my soft skills at university went into upgrade mode.

The cooking classes at Txoko are one of my favorite things. I used to live on pasta and sandwiches, and now I make things that even I can't believe.

But the best part isn't the food, it's the atmosphere: everyone creating chaos together, laughing when something goes terribly wrong, organizing ourselves so that the kitchen doesn't burn down... and without realizing it, you're becoming more responsible, more communicative, and more of a leader.

This is what it's like to live in a university residence with activities, but done well.

I thought the workshops were going to be boring... but not at all. They take you out of your comfort zone, but in a chill way. You leave thinking, "Maybe I'm capable of more than I thought."

The conversations are also a big plus. You meet people from a thousand different places, cultures, and ways of looking at life. Without even trying, you become more open, more empathetic, and much better at communicating.

And Thinkinglabs talks are on another level: a real mental workout. You learn to think better, to question, to really listen. You come out with your brain feeling like it's done push-ups.

To be honest, I used to think that a residence hall was just a place to sleep and study. But StepHouse rents: you improve, grow, connect, and prepare for real life without even realizing it.

It's not just a nice room or a place to "survive" college.

If you're looking for student accommodation and you're stressed because you don't know where to go, I'll just say this:
Here, you don't just come to survive college, you really live it.

And that, honestly, is worth a thousand times more than a pretty room to post on Instagram.