Having to live with a stranger takes a lot of getting used to, but by the second
semester, you and your roommate have probably gotten into a steady routine. I
thought my roommate and I had a pretty solid relationship–we went to dinner
together, hung out on the weekends, studied for our Economics exams, and watched
the same TV shows. When January rolled around, we had a falling out that caused
our room to turn into a war zone instead of the formerly friendly 403. Neighbors
were afraid to enter and the tension could be cut with a knife. We had stopped
talking all together when the Resident Advisors finally decided to take it upon
themselves to step in. Living with someone takes a lot of compromise on both sides,
and it’s important to keep some simple rules in mind to avoid making your
dorm room unlivable.
– Communication is key. Not speaking will not fix anything. If you’re unhappy
with your roommate’s odd habits (like watching television at 5 am or video
chatting with cousins in Europe in the middle of the night), make sure to talk
to her about it! Chances are she’s a reasonable person, and would be open to
listening to your opinions. Remember to keep the conversations friendly and
non-confrontational, as well as offer suggestions for change instead of just
stating problems.
– You don’t have to be best friends. While it’s nice to have a friendly
relationship with your roommate, there is nothing wrong with both of you
having your own sets of friends and different social activities. It’s easier to
get along if you’re not constantly with each other throughout the day.
– As much as your roommate might be annoying you, she probably has her
own complaints about your behaviors as well. Compromise is important! She might
be just as annoyed at your early morning work out wake ups as you are
at her late night habits. The room is a shared space and it’s important to
examine your own faults rather than blaming everything on your roommate.
If you still can’t create a relaxed environment, remember that your Resident
Advisors are there for you. While it can be uncomfortable to admit that things aren’t
working and that you need help, it’s important for your own sanity to take care of
your issues quickly so that they don’t begin to affect other areas of your life.