Finding Home and Independence at the ACS Dorm

February 5, 2026 — Starting at the American College of Sofia at barely 13 years old is a leap of faith. “I was excited, but also anxious,” one alumna recalls. “Living in a room with three other girls sounded thrilling and slightly terrifying.” Like many students, she arrived from outside Sofia, unsure what dorm life would bring.

On the very first day, Gergana met her future best friend, Viktoria. “We were both wearing Ariana Grande hoodies and eyeglasses, and realized we were just equally awkward.” Bonding over Harry Potter and math competitions, they found comfort in having someone so similar “just two meters away every single day.” Today, the girls are roommates again as university students in Milan.

The dorm quickly became a place of friendships and shared stories. From getting lost in the Sofia subway for hours to flooding a room on “everything shower night,” these moments shaped resilience and independence. “Dorm life taught me how to manage my time, my responsibilities, and myself,” Gergana says.

Guiding this growth were the dorm’s trusted adults like Roumi, who are available 24/7. “She was strict, but she genuinely cared. I probably would have missed half my classes without her.”

Years later, the impact remains clear. “The transition to university felt surprisingly natural,” she reflects. “Some of my best years were spent at the college.” The ACS dorm was not just a place of residence, but a second home where young people’s independence quietly takes root.