The start of college is a time of firsts: first time living on your own, first time buying stuff for yourself (food, cleaning supplies, tuition, etc.). This fact alone can be a huge adjustment. It’s a long process and it’s not always easy. We now live on campus within walking distance to our classes (most of them). What we used to do at school and on the weekends are now done in one place. With this, comes obvious interactions with other people, may it be other students, professors, faculty and staff. Some of them you like. Others may not. This is ok. This is all part of the experience of growing and finding yourself.

To put an emphasis on living conditions most of us have roommates. In some situations we may already know them. Other instances, we’re just meeting for the first time. The latter is a slightly overwhelming concept. It’s one thing to be rooming with someone you know. You may already have a general idea of living with them would be like just by hanging out with them. Boarding with a complete stranger adds to the never-ending sea of stress and fear of the unknown. When you’re an incoming freshmen and you don’t know many people on campus as it is, you don’t have much knowledge on who exactly to room with. You’re pretty much stuff with who you have. Don’t get wrong, I’ve seen some examples of where this can actually be a successful thing. The two (or how many people you room with) people can become friends. On the flip side, it can go very badly, and the roommates can become enemies. There are many examples of this, so I’ll just lightly touch on them.

You have the “out-right loathing”. This is when the roommates don’t like each other no matter what happens or whatever force that tries to link them together. It just doesn’t work. There are constant rounds of arguing and in some cases, physical fights. Another example is the "frenemies" route. The roommates get along well enough to the point of no-outward arguing, but deep down they wish to room with other people. They make the situation work as long as they can. Sometimes they can last a whole school year. Others, last less. We have the “cordial colleagues”. These people may or may not have met each other before move-in day, but they get along very well. No arguing effective communication, respective of each other’s space and preferences. Even with this, they may not live together again. Nothing personal-- just a want for a different roommate. This is probably the trickiest. You don’t know if it’s truly a want for a new location of a new face or is it just personal and they’re not admitting it. Lastly, we have the “best- friends” route. This is rare, but when it happens, it’s just beautiful. They could have known each other forever by how well they get along and how close they are. This is precious package. They have time to themselves but also hang out a lot. And there you have it.

Where am I going with this? This is long history (or personal observation) of college life in regards to changes in living conditions. This leads me to giving a big shout-out to all my suite-mates I’m rooming with this semester. Last semester, I started out in a different dorm building with a different person. In late January, I roomed in a different building with people whom I knew of and got along. You have already known each long before I knew any of you, and you welcomed me into the suite with open arms and warm smiles. Move-in day is stressful no matter what year you’re in and no matter how many times you’ve done it, so finding people that made the transition comfortable is a blessing I’m thankful for. Thank you all for being there when I needed you.