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Culture

5 Simple Ways to Be the Best Roomie Ever

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Kenyon chapter.
Let’s be honest: sometimes we just don’t get along with our roommates. Whether Kenyon assigns you a random partner as a freshman or you’re rooming with your best friends from years before, the fact of the matter is that living with someone else can be hard. However, your living arrangements can be easily remedied if you take it upon yourself to improve your radical roomie relationship!
 
 
1. Treat your roomie to their favorite treats.
Heading out to Wiggle Ground? Why not invite your roommate to come along…or better yet: bring them their favorite drink back. After all, a caffeinated and full roomie is a happy roomie. 
 
2. Clean the room every once in a while.
Leaving one or both sides of the room spick and span will definitely earn you bonus points. And an air freshener to disguise the smell of dirty laundry can’t hurt, too. 
 
3. Spend time together outside of the room.
There’s no reason to confine your friendship within the four walls of your residence hall. Take your roomie somewhere, whether it’s Mount Vernon or the Gund Gallery
 
4. Support them in their extracurricular activities.
If your roomie is a singer, actor, or a dancer, attending their performances will show them that you care about them and what they do outside the room – but not in a creepy way. 
 
5. Communication is key.
If you want the room to yourself – whether it’s for homework or just to hang out with your group of friends – give your roomie a fair warning. And don’t forget to respect their space, too. 
Emma Miller, from Shaker Heights, Ohio,  is a senior Drama major at Kenyon College. She is a co-president of StageFemmes, a Kenyon student theatre organization dedicated to showcasing the talents of women in drama. Emma spends her summers as Assistant Director at a Jewish performing arts camp. Emma is thrilled to be in her second year as co-Campus Correspondent for Kenyon's HC chapter.  Emma was a founding staff member of her high school's online magazine, and her writings have also been published on the FBomb. She is passionate about girls' education, Jimmy Fallon, iced tea, Ireland, Cleveland, and SmartWool socks.