Doing the room mate shuffle

Posted by admin on Feb 20, 2007 in Community | 0 comments

I do not cry easily, or often. If I recall correctly, I’ve only cried once a year during the last five. As such, it is acutely embarrassing to admit that the one time I cried in 2004 was over the issue of finding a roommate for my next year at school.

I’ve been told by a very unreliable source that when you cry it is the result of feeling overwhelmed. And so it was when I found myself sitting in my 8/9 Upper dorm room in Douglas hall, sobbing because I didn’t think any of my friends wanted to room with me the next year. The fact that I had to suddenly pair off in a pseudo-marriage relationship, coupled with my fear that none of my suitors would accept me, was evidently too much to bear.

Looking back now, it is more than embarrassing because I realize how horribly self-centered I was being. In my deliberations over my potential future co-habitants, I never once stopped to ask who else was feeling awkward and left out: who could I be a good roommate to? No, all I saw was this weird chance to snag a best friend and I was failing miserably at it.

To be honest, even now, writing this is a bit more self-revealing than I would like, but my hope is that you can learn from my mistakes and avoid any unnecessary angst associated with the ever-looming roommate scramble. So here are some tips from a wizened fourth year:

1. Your roommate is not the same thing as your best friend. All too often good friends room together and drive each other crazy. Try to find someone whose sleeping habits, music habits, etc. fit well with your’s, and do not feel the pressure to hang out with them 24/7.

2. Don’t agree to room with someone just because they ask you to. Who you room with can significantly affect your year, so learn to say no with grace when necessary.

3. Instead of trying to find the person who would make your life easy, look for someone you can reach out to and be a good roommate to. Room with an international student and help them learn English. Be extrospective.

And with that, sit back, relax, and let the roommate shuffle do its thing. After all, you can never be sure, so don’t stress about it too much.