Howdy partner! Big things are happening at The Timeless Prep. If you've stumbled upon this post, you probably are stressing about moving off to college in just a few short months and have no idea what it's like to share a room with another person (read: stranger)!
If you fit the description above, then this is the perfect place for you! Over the next few months, Timeless Prep will be blogging all about college life and how to survive the struggles of freshman year. From living with a roomie, to knowing what things you should and shouldn't eat at the dining hall, I'm your girl for all things college! We'll even dive into the world of college applications and talk about how to choose the perfect college for you, if you're still in high school.
For now let's get started on how to make the most out of living with another person!! Roomies can be fun!
... try and learn as much about your roomie as you can. Even if you go random and let the school decide your roommate fate, you'll know at least a few weeks in advance who the person you'll be living with is. Contact them as soon as possible and try and find out what they're like and what they want to get out of their college and roommate experience. This will reduce some tension during move-in and make the transition smoother, since you'll be spending a TON of time with your roommate.
... expect your roommate to always be your best friend. You will spend a lot of time together and they will be your go-to person for lots of activities, but you don't need to be tied at the hip. It's okay to meet other people and branch out from just the kids who live on your hall. Your roommate will always be there for you to come back to, and you'll spend enough time together even if you aren't best of friends. I loved my freshman roommate and spent a ton of time with her, but we also realized that we had our own groups of friends and weren't dependent on each other to always hang out. We ate almost all of our meals together and hung out at night when we were both in the room, and we had a great time!
... respect each others' personal space. Don't poke and prod around in your roommate's stuff, unless you get permission or have decided that you're okay with sharing. When they have a big exam coming up, do your best to keep quiet and not interrupt their studying, their sleep, or anything else. If you're going to have someone spend the night in your room, make sure to notify your roomie and see if it's okay. Sometimes your roomie may have a super stressful week coming up and having another person around would be a hassle. Respect what they have going on; that's what you'd want them to do for you.
... lock them out of the room while they're in the shower (lol). My roommate and I had a great system going where we would check and see if the other would be sticking around while we were showering. That way, we didn't have to drag our key to the bathroom, but we knew our room wouldn't be unattended (read: as close as your floor may be, things will still get stolen). I've brought my roommate her key while in the bathroom multiple times if I knew I had to leave the room and she was still showering. Help each other out! It's the little things that make a roommate great.
... keep your space clean and neat. Roommate surveys are not always as specific as they could be, and everyone has their own definition of "clean." A roommate who leaves her clothes all over the floor or doesn't do the laundry can be frustrating. It's always a good idea to present yourself in the best manner possible and stay tidy so as not to get on your roommate's nerves. If you have a bathroom or kitchenette, decide how and when you're going to clean, and take turns. For things like garbage, my roomie and I were pretty good about taking it out when it got too full, and we didn't have to worry about any silly agreements to swap every week or whatnot. This is college. You know what's clean and what's not.
... be afraid to talk to your roommate. If she does something that bothers you or you don't like, you have every right to speak up. When you're sharing a living space, you have to work together to accommodate both people. Don't be rude or argumentative, but you can, and should, let your roommate know if she does something that you're not okay with. Even if it's a matter of throwing out old food she left in the fridge, politely ask her if she would mind throwing it out (ain't nobody want rodents in their dorm room). A cooperative attitude will show your roommate your good intentions and she will be likely to follow in your footsteps.
... nice things for each other. Many times my roommate and I would bring each other back chocolate chip cookies from the dining hall if we weren't eating together. Those cookies were so delicious and they didn't have them very often - neither of us wanted to miss out on the yummy cookies when we had the chance! During finals, I wrote messages to my roomie on our chalkboard to wish her good luck on her exams, since I knew I would still be asleep when she went off to her test. And there were plenty of times when my roommate would pick up chips for me at the store, or bring me back Coldstone ice cream when she worked there during the year. We really learned to appreciate the little things that we did for each other.
... stress out if your roommate situation doesn't work. I had to change my roommate once before I was happy with my living situation, and although at first I was nervous about doing so, I was much happier afterward and had a much better college experience than if I had stayed with the first girl. Sometimes things won't work out, and that's okay. It's your job to make sure that you are creating the best environment for you, and sometimes that means making tough choices. It will all work out the way it's supposed to!
That's it for today, folks! I hope you enjoyed the first part of my college series!!
PS. Any summer book suggestions? I have a few on my shelf that I need to start but I could use some good, light beach reading!
Be First to Post Comment !
Post a Comment