Let’s face it, one of the most stressful parts of college is living with a roommate. Whether you have shared a room in the past or this is your first time, everyone is nervous to live with someone new. Some people live with friends while others are paired with complete strangers. This nerve-racking experience can end either really well or really badly. I am one of the blessed few who got lucky living with a stranger.
1. Thank you for being my first college friend.
Going away to school, I was terrified knowing that I would know almost no one. The people who I have spent the last thirteen years going to school with have gone in separate directions. Thank you for being my roommate by chance and my friend by choice. There is no one else I would rather awkwardly try to figure out campus with.
2. Thank you for letting me third wheel.
I wouldn’t call it third wheeling. You let me tag along with your boyfriend instead of letting me eat alone. You let me in on your lives and made me feel less alone as I was transitioning into a new school. I was basically a stranger, but you made sure I was included. I cannot thank you enough for that.
3. Thank you for listening to my rant.
You are no way expected to listen to my constant frustrations, but you choose to do so anyways. I’m not the most patient person and I appreciate your listening to my pointless drama of the week. Your attention is not required but fully appreciated. Your advice and feedback have definitely made an impact.
There are often times where I am so frustrated, I find myself shutting down. I might put my headphones in and disconnect from the world for a while. I might sit in bed all day and watch an entire season of "The Office" on Netflix. I appreciate your concern about my well being and I appreciate you respecting my privacy until I feel like going on my rant. Thank you for letting me ignore my problems for a while.
4. Thank you for supporting me.
One of the greatest things you can do for a friend is support them. How lucky am I that my roommate doubles as my friend? Thank you for reminding me not to doubt myself. I know I can often be hard on myself, but you remind me that I am a lot smarter than I give myself credit for. Thank you for being proud of me when I aced the exam I studied six hours for, even when you already knew I was stressing out over nothing. Thank you for listening to me contemplate a difficult decision and supporting whatever I decide to do, no matter which option I choose. It means a lot to me to have someone who will always have my back.
5. Thank you for communicating with me.
Communication is one of the most important things in a relationship, especially between roommates. How else would we know if something was bothering the other person? I am so glad I was blessed with a roommate who can tell me the truth. Whether it is about my hair constantly shedding (I’ll Swiffer, I promise!) or how I look in my new sweater, I am fully appreciative of your feedback.
6. Thank you for putting up with my late nights.
For as long as I can remember, I have always been a night owl. I was blessed to have the same kind of friends in college. There are some nights that I intend to go to bed early, but find myself unlocking our door much later than I thought. As quiet as I really can be, I know that sometimes I might accidentally wake you up. Thank you for still loving me in the morning.
7. Thank you for letting me sleep.
As you have grown to know, I like sleeping more than I like most people. It is my happy place. After my late nights, I can sleep late into the next day. There are also days where naps are the only thing I want to participate in. As annoying as I can imagine this can be for you, thank you for quietly leaving the room and letting me be lazy for a while.
8. Thank you for making me laugh.
Someone once said that laughter is the best medicine. With one semester down, we have had plenty of laughter from room 317. I got really lucky that I got a roommate with a great sense of humor. I love how we can laugh at how weird the two of us are instead of thinking the other is crazy. Well, we are both crazy but in the best way!
9. Thank you for letting me in.
I know plenty of people who hardly speak to their roommates. I know people who try to sleep in different rooms in order to avoid their roommates. I got really lucky to have a roommate who I know plenty about. I cannot tell you how thankful I am that you let me be apart of your life. Thank you for telling me all about your love for Sammy Adams and all about your love for your family. Thank you for telling me little stories from your past and current stories about your dance team. I cannot tell you how good it feels to know I might be one of your stories someday.
10. Thank you for being my roommate.
There were over 1,000 freshman accepted into our school, 1,000 different people that could have been your roommate. Yet for some reason, you decided that I was good enough to be your roommate. You put up with my hair shedding all over the room and my days where all I do is want to sleep and ignore the rest of the world. I am so lucky to not only call you my roommate, but to call you my supporter, my rock and most importantly, my friend.
