Academia's motto "In Diversity we Learn, In Unity we Trust" does not only summarize the heart of Academia the residence and the average Academian, but it provides every student that enters our gates with a clear understanding of the type of residence that Academia chooses to be.

In a global village comprised of both foreign and senior students Academia is truly a unique place to call home. Living in Academia for the past 3 years has been a truly life changing experience, I have come into contact with amazing people, most of whom will continue to be life-long friends.

The wonderful staff at Academia has not only added my wonderful experience at Academia, but it has also shown me that we living as Academia are more than a residence, but we are a family. It is for this reason that I will continue to call Academia my home for as long as my academic career continues at Stellenbosch University.

For me living in Academia has been an ever-changing experience. After I finished high school I wanted the chance to experience all that University has to offer - yet I still wanted to be independent, thus a traditional residence was not for me.

Academia gave me the freedom to define myself, and not be defined. Here I could experience University life independently, but with enough structure to still feel safe.

From an academic perspective it is situated on campus making getting to class a breeze, especially with the little shop at the gate that provides coffee for those early morning classes.

Academia is about diversity - we have lively students, shy students, all types of people from engineers to accountants and even our share of drama students. Within these groups you will find individuals from all over the world, from Cape Town to Bangkok, giving everyone a chance to meet new people and to learn from each other by looking at the world from another's perspective.

Choosing to live in Academia broadened my horizons and its a choice I will never regret making.