"Ours wasn’t just a flat - it was a home. A little pocket of joy tucked away in the chaos of student life."
This week's Human of York features a dedication from Fatima to her first year flatmates in David Kato College, written as she prepared to move out to second year accommodation.
Fatima says: "I wish I had the perfect words to capture what I’m feeling right now - but sometimes, words just aren’t enough.
"I can’t thank David Kato College enough for bringing such incredible people into my life.
"Being a Muslim girl, a hijabi, and living away from home - especially sharing a flat with others, including the opposite gender - was something I was nervous about. But my flatmates made it feel so easy, so natural, and so safe.
"They weren’t just kind to me - they were truly respectful, caring and full of warmth. They embraced me wholeheartedly, and I felt genuinely loved. And oh, how deeply I love them back.
"Ours wasn’t just a flat - it was a home. A little pocket of joy tucked away in the chaos of student life.
"We laughed together in the kitchen, played silly games, waited for each other so we could walk to college meals side by side.
"We showed up for each other, in big and small ways.
"And before we knew it, strangers became friends, and friends became family.
"But now the time has come to go our separate ways. One by one, they’ve left - and the flat doesn’t feel the same without them. It’s quieter now, and my heart feels heavier.
"I miss them more than words can express. I’ll carry their love and memories with me, always praying for their happiness, peace, and success - wherever life takes them."
Fatima, David Kato College, Humans of York, August 2025
