Going to a new school, in a new state, with new people, was a chance to start over. Going through high school, I always wanted the ability to have a re-do. Although I had graduated and moved on, this was my opportunity to become the me I've always wanted to become. It all started with picking a roommate.

There were so many different ideas running through my head about what the perfect roommate would be. They could be someone super similar to me, who was bound to be my friend. Or maybe someone who was a complete opposite and might run into arguments or differences of opinion. There was also the option to take the easy route and live with someone from my hometown. I decided to branch off from what I knew and begin the random roommate search.

I talked to athletes, artists, dancers, you name it, and I never really meshed with them the way I wanted to. I was feeling discouraged, I didn't think there was someone out there that fit all the things I was looking for. I had decided one day that I was going to take a break from searching because it was causing unneeded stress. Later that day, I got a message from a girl who seemed super sweet and we began talking.

She was a theatre kid from a private school in Louisville, Kentucky. I never really got along with the theatre kids at my high school, but she seemed perfect. We wanted the same things out of the living situation, got along on a personal level, and seemed to have some similar interests. We talked for about four days, and decided we were going to room together. We talked every once in a while about things we were going to get for the room, and some small talk, but I wanted to go into the year not knowing everything about her. I had hoped that when we began to live together, that we would learn more about each other and grow as people and roommates.

Now that my first year is almost over, I can happily say that choosing a random roommate was the best decision. I'm not going to lie and say everything is perfect all the time. When we run into issues or disagreements, we have to realize that we live in the same space. Hostility is never the answer. We agreed to take all issues to each other when they arise and figure it out so our room can be a safe space.

We've spent so many nights sitting on each other's beds having deep talks, and running each other through our days. We've laughed together, cried together and spent so much time sharing jokes and writing down funny things we've said in the room 313 quote book. My roommate is always someone I can count on, and she can count on me. We are always there as a back spot to support each other through the best and worst of times.

I will always remember the sweet notes she would write on my mirror, encouraging me to do well on my exams. Or the time we wrote 'free cookies' on the outside of our door to meet our new neighbors, and nobody knocked. Having a random roommate gave me the opportunity and ability to introduce myself to a whole new group of people that I normally wouldn't picture myself with. We won't be living together next year, but I know that if I ever need anything she will be there for me.