One of the hardest things about going to college is adjusting to living with a roommate, especially if you barely know anything about your roommate before move in day. In my case, I met a girl at Accepted Students Day who I knew I wanted to room with. We talked and got to know each other and decided we were a perfect fit for roommates. After months of planning our room and getting everything perfect, my roommate had to transfer due to issues with her major. I was devastated and left to plan a room a girl I had never met. I was nervous about living with someone I had never met before, but I soon adjusted and learned some things along the way.
1. Don't be shy.
Not knowing a person can lead you to act shy around them until you get to know them better, but don't act that way. Talk to your roommate, make an effort to know them, go to the dining hall together. The more you do together and the more you talk, the sooner you will get to know each other and become friends.
2. Get to know their friends.
My roommate came to PC with people she went to high school with, but I barely knew anyone. Her friends became my friends and as I got to know people, I shared my friends with her as well. It can be a little scary when you first start college, so it never hurts to have friends to adjust with.
3. Find common interests.
My roommate and I found a common interest in music. We could spend hours on YouTube during the evening when we had nothing else to do listening to music we both liked. Eventually, we introduced each other to other music we liked, shows on Netflix and other hobbies. It makes getting to know each other a lot easier when you know you have things in common.
4. Make it a point to have "roomie time."
One of the greatest things about college is that every night is kind of like a big sleepover. Your friends are near you at all times, and it's always easy to hang out together. However, there are times when you and your roommate need time to yourselves. You need time to talk and bond. Friends are great, but you and your roommate are the ones sharing a living space. The best way to get to know each other is spending time with each other.
5. Decorate your room together.
Make things to decorate your room with. Crafting and DIY is fun with friends, and it makes for an interesting conversation when people come by your room. It's also fun to decorate for holidays. My roommate and I made canvases to put on the walls and found lots of things with our initials to put up. We also decorated for holidays, especially Christmas. Decorating is fun and gives you lots of time to talk and get to know each other while you work.
6. Don't be afraid to set boundaries.
My roommate liked staying up late, but I like to go to bed somewhat early. She was thankfully very understanding and never woke me up or kept me up. Each RA requires you and your roommate to fill out a contract type thing at the beginning of the semester. Don't be afraid to let your roommate know if there's something you don't like or don't want them to do. Setting up boundaries will make things easier when adjusting to your new life.
7. Let your roommate know where you're going.
I am horrible at letting people know where I'm going, but I am working on getting better at it! Just because you don't know someone very well doesn't mean you don't need to tell them your plans. Make it a point to let your roommate know your plans, and you never know when one of you might be doing something you could do together.
Starting a new life is scary. Starting a new life while sharing a room with someone you don't know is even more scary. But don't worry, because you will figure things out and move forward, one day at a time.
