With the first semester of college drawing to a close, it has become clear how much of a blessing sharing a room with someone that was a stranger four months ago has been. With my roommate leaving for her Winter Break two full days before me, it came to mind how lucky I am to have her and how strange it is to be home when she isn't there. So in the spirit of the first chapter of college coming to a close, here are a few reasons to love having a roommate.

1. You're never alone.

She's got your back if she's anything like my roommate. Need a friend to walk with you to pick up your mail? Roommate. Don't want to wander around and find a bathroom alone? Roommate. Want to curl up in bed and watch HGTV? Oh yes, you'd better believe your roommate is there. And maybe she even loves Chip and Joanna as much as you do, but that'd just be too perfect.

2. You have a built-in therapist.

She may not have a doctorate, but you better believe you're in good hands. On those days when you come back from class and all you want to do is cry, your roommate is there to lock the door behind you and let you talk it out. She wants to hear about your problems, and she genuinely cares if you feel better. Plus, sometimes she'll give you chocolate to make you feel better or make food for you — and that's a beautiful thing.

3. You have somewhere to go that isn't home.

I know that I'm welcome at her house just like I'm welcome at mine, and she's welcome to visit me anytime. I can't express how many late night "When you come to visit..." conversations we've had, and I'm blessed to know that she wants me to see where she came from because we're just that close. We're roommates, and that's a different kind of family, in all honesty.

4. They have your back.

No matter what the situation is, I know my roommate has my back. "We live together" is something both of us say to other people in explanation for our relationship, and it just sums it up. When you go to bed, she's sleeping five feet away. When you come home from class, she's there. It's something that's hard to define explicitly, but I know she'll always have my back, whether it be backing me up in an argument or driving me to Dairy Queen because I need a Blizzard.

5. You have a new best friend.

We may have been strangers four months ago, and our only form of communication was over Facebook and text message, but to say we're best friends is really an understatement. Your roommate becomes an undeniably important part of your life, and you start to care about them just like they care about you. Her favorite TV shows become a part of my life and she settles in to watch my favorite movies because that's the way it is. And the million late night life conversations after everyone has left the room and we're both going to bed have made us closer than most friendships. We live together, and for that, I'll be forever grateful.