I recently had the pleasure of attending the Formal hosted by HAPP at the Hilton Hotel in Belfast. It was my first time attending this type of event and I was very excited to know what it was all about. At the same time, I like to take advantage of any opportunity that allows me to dress up in a beautiful dress to enjoy a marvellous and delicious dinner with my friends.

The idea of a Formal was something new to me, however, after having attended it, I understood that it is a very valuable opportunity to meet new people from the faculty and learn about their experiences regarding the common interests that we have within our programmes. That's why, in this blog, I'm going to tell you what I enjoyed most about this experience because I think you shouldn't miss it when your faculty or another organises it.

^{I love dressing up}

What is a faculty Formal?

A faculty formal is an academic event that combines academics with social in a more relaxed and festive atmosphere. It is an opportunity for students from different programmes to meet outside the classroom in a more informal setting, usually accompanied by music, food, and drink. This type of event may include short speeches by prominent professors, raffles, and occasionally presentations by local artists.

HAPP Formal

Upon arrival, I found several people dressed very elegantly, which made me get into the vibe right away. The reception was on the second floor of the hotel, where the staff that organised the event was checking the tickets and putting a stamp on your arm to identify that you were part of it.

^{With my friends enjoying drinks from the reception}

At the reception, I met my friends and there was a bar where we could buy some drinks before starting the night. It was amazing to talk to them and see all of us so well dressed. We took some Hollywood-style photos with a shiny wall that had been installed for the event.

Dinner

In advance, you will receive an email where you choose who you want to sit with. My friends and I set up our table so we could all be seated together. The organisation of the tables was visible in lists at the entrance of the room, so it was easy to find our table, and the disorder at the event was avoided. Once at our table, we were able to continue talking and getting to know the people who were sitting around us.

We had a delicious appetiser with vegetable soup, bread, and butter and we made a toast to celebrate having met and for the achievements obtained during our first semester of our master's degrees.

^{Let's make a toast!}

Then, there was a speech by the organisers of the event, where they thanked us for our attendance and informed us that the funds collected from the tickets were going to charity, which made the event more special. After that, it was time for the raffle, which was a lot of fun because we all celebrated the triumphs of the winners despite not knowing them. The enthusiasm of all the attendees was felt, which injected a lot of joy into the atmosphere. Unfortunately, none of us won anything at our table.

The moment of the meal arrived, and we enjoyed a delicious chicken with vegetables and mashed potatoes, accompanied by our respective glasses of wine purchased at the bar. It was a delicious dinner that left us all so satisfied that afterwards, we felt like we didn't have room for dessert. However, we were unable to resist the vanilla ice cream that we were served – the food was undoubtedly delicious.

^{I couldn't resist dessert}

The atmosphere continued to heat up, and the DJ began to play music so we could all get up and dance until our feet hurt. A photo booth was also set up and we took lots of fun photos and were able to print everlasting memories. It was a splendid night that ended with a lot of music and fun, where I was able to enjoy myself with my friends, see people with whom I attended different classes, and meet many more with whom I kept contact and crossed paths at the university. In the end, there were several after-parties organised and we ended up going to the one at Ollies which was amazing.

In short, having attended this Formal was very important for me because it strengthened my connections with my friends and with other people I was able to meet from the university, and learn about their personal and academic trajectories and achievements. For me, it was an experience that enriched my university experience in Queen’s and helped me connect with people beyond academics.

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Information for students from Colombia

Isabella Barros De La Rosa Violence, Terrorism and Security | Postgraduate Student | Colombia Hello, my name is Isabella Barros, I am 24 years old and I am from a beautiful city on the Caribbean coast of Colombia called Barranquilla. I am currently pursuing my master's in Violence, Terrorism and Security at Queen’s. I am very into running and outdoor activities. That's why Belfast is so amazing to live in, because of the landscapes, and the spaces for this kind of hobby. Besides running and studying, you can find me in any bookstore, wandering around the city, or enjoying a pleasant coffee in a cute cafe!