Let’s face it — transitioning from a high school senior into a first-year college student, while certainly exciting, can be a stressful and intimidating time.
Moving away from home can be daunting, especially when it means living with a roommate, possibly a completely random one.
However, something that students will come to realize is that despite one’s best efforts, whether you went random or are rooming with someone you already know, differences will undoubtedly arise. It’s simply the reality of living in an 11-foot by 15-foot unrenovated dorm (thank you Porter Hall).
Here are some do’s and don’ts of living with a roommate. First-years listen closely.
Do: Get to know your roommate. Whether initial introductions seem natural or forced, I’ve always found that you will undoubtedly have at least some commonalities in trying to get to know someone.
Regardless of ethnicity, beliefs or background, we can all relate to one thing: each one of us is among more than 49,000 students here at University Park.
Getting to know your roommate can help make leaps and bounds in terms of connecting two different people who may have met each other by chance.
Don’t: Get too worked up over arising issues. It can be difficult to execute when push comes to shove, but oftentimes, living in a tiny dorm room causes small issues to gradually snowball into bigger ones. Whether it’s a nagging pet peeve your roommate has or general disagreements, small issues that shouldn’t warrant much attention unintentionally become bigger when living in such cramped quarters..
Many times, these issues can be easily solved by talking with your roommate and recognizing the conditions in which you both live at the time.
Do: Have fun with your roommate. Believe it or not, college can be a lot of fun. With tons of outside activities to do on campus or downtown, along with hanging out in the dorms or commons, there’s no shortage of entertainment at Penn State. Don’t even get me started on the phenomenon that is tailgating during football season.
Try to find things that interest both you and your roommate or if you’re feeling bold enough, get out of your comfort zone and try something new. From laser tag to axe throwing to pottery painting, State College offers nearly everything to those willing to give it a try.
Don’t: Mess with stuff that isn’t yours. I feel like this goes without saying, but if it’s not your property, without your roommate’s permission, don’t mess with it.
Regardless of what it may be, if your roommate doesn’t want you touching it, just don’t. Living with someone new can be challenging enough as it is without having to worry about personal boundaries. If it isn’t yours, don’t assume you have a right to it.
Do: Find a good study spot outside of the dorm room. Whether it’s somewhere on campus or at one of the countless businesses downtown that welcome students, Penn State offers an unlimited number of study spots.
From the Pattee and Paterno Library in the heart of campus to Webster’s Bookstore Cafe, there are plenty of places for students wanting a change of scenery.
Such a change can help to minimize roommate issues, as both parties aren’t constantly in direct proximity to each other all the time.
Don’t: Be messy beyond reason. Nobody likes a slob. I say “beyond reason” because, as a college student who knows the habits of other college students, people get busy. When people get busy, sometimes cleanliness unfortunately becomes a second thought. However, please, please, please try your best to keep a tidy enough space that is manageable.
Students can become a bit careless, but try to stay conscious of it, as your roommate certainly will be if it starts to get bad and creeps its way onto their portion of the room.
Living with someone new, especially in such tight conditions and in an unfamiliar place, can be challenging. Unless you’ve had to share a bedroom with siblings in the past, for most, it is a brand-new experience. However, just because it’s a new experience doesn’t mean it has to be a bad one. With a little effort, communication and respect, you may just find yourself a best friend for years to come.
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