Coming into my freshman year, one thing I was insanely terrified of was living with a roommate. Now, having spent an entire year living with her, I can say I am extremely happy I had the chance to live with her.
Bethany and I met on Sept. 3, 2017. I showed up to MCLA that morning and got to the room before her. After slowly bringing my things upstairs and waiting thirty nail-biting minutes, my roommate and her parents came. I nearly had a panic attack—I had no idea what she would think of me, my appearance, my decorations, my food, my stuffed animals, or any part of me. I realize now that I was not scared of living with her, I was scared of how she would feel living with me.
Despite my anxiety, our meeting went completely fine. We exchanged an enthusiastic greeting as our parents shook hands. We spent that morning moving our stuff in and chatting. Although we just met, she was so nice to me. I was instantly filled with hope for the year ahead.
In the first few days of college, she introduced me to some friends she met during orientation. Bethany and these new people were beyond nice to me, and soon I found myself in a close-knit group of friends. Having the same friends allowed Bethany and I to bond more than ever. Simply by spending more time together, I got to know her. I learned that she was from out of state, had an older brother, loved to dance, loved cats and loved the color blue. I also learned that she was an amazingly loyal and valuable friend. I saw so many qualities in her that I admired and wished I had. She was outgoing, passionate and driven. Her unique personality inspired me to try new things and branch out.
I consider myself lucky because I became insanely good friends with my roommate. All through freshman year, we ate meals together, went to campus events, took late-night walks, hung out at the library, watched Netflix and leaned on each other for emotional support.
My experience living with another person did have its ups and downs throughout the year. Being an anxious introvert, I found it tough to live so closely with someone else. It had nothing to do with her—it had to do with my personal limitations and boundaries. I am someone who cherishes having my personal space. At home, I use my bedroom as an escape when I can’t stand being around other people. In college, living in a dorm, it was hard to find the same kind of escape. Luckily, I found ways around it. I spent time outside the room in lounges and other buildings like the library. But even when we were in the room together, I enjoyed it.
Overall, though, living with a roommate has brought me out of my shell. I am more social than ever because of her. She inspires me every day with her nonstop energy and willingness to be herself. Although I will have a single room next year, I will never regret this experience of living with Bethany. We were able to learn, change and grow alongside each other.
If you have never lived with a roommate before, I recommend you try it once. It will teach you things about yourself that you could never predict. Here are my best reasons for living with a roommate in college:
1. College is about new experiences—living with someone is a great one to try!
College is a time to branch out. Even if you think you will hate having a roommate, you will never know until you try. Take a chance, keep an open mind and embrace what this new experience has to offer.
2. You will make at least one friend.
It is not guaranteed that your roommate will automatically become your best friend, but there is a good chance you will become close. As long as you are respectful, that is all a roommate can ask for. If you are shy, challenge yourself to make friends with them. It will benefit you in the long run.
3. You will see how someone lives differently than you.
Chances are, your roommate will not be exactly like you. They might have a different bedtime, organize their clothes differently, or listen to different music than you. It can be a valuable learning experience to see how people of different backgrounds live.
4. You will learn how to collaborate and share a space.
If you’ve never shared a bedroom with someone before, college is a great time to learn how to do it properly. You will learn how to be respectful when your roommate goes to bed earlier than you. You will learn not to fill the fridge with too much of your own food. You will learn not to leave your dirty clothes on the floor. I recommend setting “rules” or boundaries for your room to make your time living there run smoothly. As conflicts arise, working them out with your roommate will teach you how to collaborate and communicate.
5. You will have someone to rely on.
Especially as a freshman, it is essential to have a support system of people you can go to when you’re lost. Living with someone guarantees you will nearly always have someone by your side. You can learn to navigate campus together, try out the dining hall together, find your classes together, and help motivate each other during late night study sessions. When you go through a break-up, you can cry on your roommate’s shoulder. Developing a good relationship with a roomie guarantees one person you can go running to in your time of need.