Last semester I had the opportunity to live in an 11-person room in my sorority. The room (called Penthouse) was my first experience in sorority life and I wouldn’t have traded it for anything. Here are 10 things I learned while living in Penthouse.
1. Not everyone will be your best friend.
And that’s okay! You’ll get along with some people better than others. But always remember that you’re roommates and you should be there for each other.
2. Your room WILL get messy.
No matter how clean you all swear to be, Friday night will roll around and clothes upon clothes will end up on the floor. But then by Monday, everything is back in its place.
3. Nothing is the end of the world.
I made the mistake of thinking almost every little thing was the end of the world. A messy room? Not acceptable. Small cliques? How rude. What I didn’t realize is that I had the power to let those things bother me. Who cares if your room was a mess? Live in the moment.
4. Drama WILL happen.
When you live with 10 other people, especially 10 other girls, drama is bound to happen. Please, please, PLEASE act like adults and handle it. No sub-tweeting, no talking behind each other’s back, and no holding grudges. I, myself, am guilty of all of these. Looking back now, I would love the opportunity to go back and change my actions but I know that everything happens for a reason.
5. Compromise is key.
When sharing a room with 1 to 11 other people you will need to compromise. You won’t always be able to decorate the way you want, play the music you want or (like I like to do) lounge around in your towel after a shower. Having roommates is give and take. Just make sure that if you’re always giving, that you take once in a while too.
6. Your space is your space.
And don’t let anyone make you think differently. It is okay to want to have your own things in your own area. If a roommate is a bit messier than you and their stuff keeps getting mixed with yours, let them know! It won’t be a big deal if you handle it nicely. But also …
7. Be prepared to share.
Share your food, share secrets, share life experiences. You will gain so many different perspectives living with this many people. You’ll share art supplies, ideas and textbooks. Just don’t take advantage of your roommates. No one likes a freeloader.
8. You will learn more than you ever wanted to know about each other.
No matter what you think going into this experience, you will learn so much about your new roommates. You’ll learn their likes and dislikes, their habits and pet peeves, and most importantly, what makes them a great sister.
9. You will need ‘me’ time.
And don’t feel guilty for this. Everyone needs to be alone once in a while. I loved going to the library and binge watching "Parks and Rec" for a couple of hours, but I always looked forward to coming home.
10. There will always be someone to talk to.
No matter what, you can expect to come home to someone in your room. A guy being horrible to you? Head to your room to talk it out with someone. A class that you think may be the death of you? You’ve guessed it! Head to your room! Someone will be there to help you through it. After all, what are roommates for?
You and your roommates will become so close that not only will they be your sisters; they will become your therapists, life coaches, Netflix buddies, consciences, and drinking buddies. They will be your friends for life. Sharing a room with 10 other people may have been hard at times, but I wouldn’t have traded this experience for anything in the world.





















