Living with Roommates in College has Filled Me with Love
Written by Ellie Edwards
Modeled by Ellie Edwards, Isabelle Stomboly, Nora Mahler, & Payton Wooldridge
If you have ever lived with multiple people you'll know the feelings of chaos, unsettledness, packed schedules, and the fun stage of life called “college.” As a fourth year student closing out one more chapter in life, I have recently spent so much time reminiscing on the memories I have made. The good, the bad, the ones we will not talk about… College is truly one of the most unique experiences that life has to offer, especially the college lifestyle. I live with three roommates, or four and a half if you count the dog and the lizard... Maybe even five and a half if we count the curious mouse that sometimes wanders in. We have a full house! Nonetheless, living with my three roommates has been such an amazing experience. Being able to live with your best friends and share life with them is a gift I will never take for granted. We get to host parties, hang out with friends, and hang out with each other! There’s movie nights and slumber parties whenever we want — I really would not change a thing.
All of this being said, no one's life is perfect and as humans — we all have our flaws. Living together can be tough sometimes. We have fights, we refuse to do the dishes, let the trash pile disgustingly high, you get what I'm saying. Sometimes it's hard, especially when it’s your first time away from home. You sign a lease not realizing it’s the first lease you’ve ever signed, and suddenly, you feel kind of grown up. Living with roommates is a unique experience because it’s unlike living with your family. At home, if something makes you mad, you can throw unfiltered ridiculous rage at the issue, but living with your friends is a whole different story.
If you’re mad someone didn’t pick up after themselves or borrowed something without asking, you can’t just throw a fit at them and expect it to just roll off their backs. You have to be relaxed and approach things in a kind manner for the sake of the house's dynamic. With roommates, it’s really easy to keep each other under a microscope — the most miniscule thing could bother you, something that might not matter in five minutes. In these moments, we need to check ourselves and take a step back for some perspective on the situation. Does this really matter? The answer is probably not. In our house, if something has gone awry we have “roomie nights” where we plan an evening to play games, eat dinner and pretty much talk about our feelings. They tend to be healing nights for us. Sometimes the conversation might feel a little uncomfortable or awkward, but usually those tough conversations are what really clear the air.
Living with my friends has taught me so much about patience, communication, and learning how to be mature about issues. Being able to navigate conversations in such a way that it’s always productive and not just fighting in circles is key for us. Though it can be tough sometimes, I wouldn't change a thing. We have made too many good memories for me to feel ungrateful. This is our second year in our home, and it really does feel like our place. We gave it a name when we moved in: “The Dollhouse.” We host parties and bands in our basement and it really is the dream. Living with people so different, yet so similar, always keeps things interesting. We all help and learn from each other so much.
If you’re on the fence about living with roommates, take a leap! Go meet up with that girl you met through that “looking for a roommate” ad on Facebook — she may end up becoming one of your best friends. Don't forget to lead with an open mind and stay patient. College can really treat you well if you let it.
