College is a time when young adults are given new freedoms, which, among other things, allows them to meet new people. Along with just meeting new people, they also experience living with new people.
Roommates are an inevitable part of college, and while some situations turn out beautifully between roommates, unfortunately, the opposite is also true, as things can quickly turn out terribly.
The size of the school, and the amount of students the college or university accepts, determines the number of students in one dorm room. In an ideal situation, a dorm room will house only two students. This is ideal so there isn’t an odd number or too many students in one area.
In odd-numbered rooms of three, there’s typically a set of bunk beds and a lofted bed. This can lead to two students becoming close and alienating the third one.
There can also be the situation of a quad, which houses four roommates in two bunk beds. In general, extra roommates make close quarters even closer, and you know what they always say about too many cooks in the kitchen.
The summer before freshman year, students typically text message their new roommates or search for them online. Chances are they won’t know each other and may not meet face-to-face until move-in day.
Though television portrays most all roommate situations to be the best experience and never shows any “hiccups” in the friendship, television does not always accurately depict reality.
The reality of roommate situations is that there will be fights among the good times, which may even escalate to something worse.
Students are not guaranteed to hate or dislike their new roommates, but some prove to be especially difficult. Although the first few weeks may go well, there is always the chance for a roommate to turn “crazy” or mean and render the relationship impossible.
Many people make lifelong friends that begin in college dorm rooms, and most people come to college aspiring to build new bonds.
In difficult roommate situations, students attempt to find the “good,” but if that is not possible and the difficult roommate grows increasingly impossible, actions must be taken.
Luckily, leaders, who are designated to step in to help ameliorate these situations, run all dorms. Sometimes, the leaders may attempt to council the roommates, but sometimes, even that won’t work. Some roommate situations become so troubling that one roommate must get a new room assignment.
There should never be fear or worry associated with a dorm room. No one should move in to college with a closed mind because there will always be something you can pick at in your roommates. Since they’re assigned, they can be hit or miss relationships, but it’s a universally good lesson to learn how to accept an unlikely friend.
Take the good moments and cherish them because yes, there will be many, along with the lifelong friendships you will make. Ignore the negativity because those moments aren’t worth remembering. Always give each roommate a few chances past the initial summer text message and first face-to-face meeting.
The bottom line is that despite living in a dorm not being the most appealing of all situations, it truly is an amazing experience that the growing young adult can make meaningful.
It teaches you to be able to live in tight places with strangers and share a communal bathroom. That’s more valuable than a bad roommate is detrimental.
