I can remember it like it was yesterday, my parents were driving me to East Lansing for my first semester at MSU. I remember feeling nervous, anxious, and exhilarated all at the same time.
There were so many things I had yet to experience and it felt like the one aspect that would make or break it would be one thing: my roommate. Thankfully, I could not be luckier with the girl that I ended up living with.
During our college journey together she has taught me so much about life, people, and the world. Here are the 12 lessons I have learned from my roommate.
1. How to be totally fine with sharing everything you own with another person. I have one brother, so sharing my things was never something I worried about too much. Living in a tiny dorm where everyone’s possessions are just intermixed was something new to me. Sharing clothes was definitely a major bonus though. Having a roommate with similar style interests is basically doubling your closet for free.
2. How to balance everything in college. College is one of the busiest times of our lives. In today’s generation, in order to succeed, just getting the grades does not cut it. You need to join clubs, get jobs or internships, attend career fairs, volunteer, and balance all of that with classes and studying. Not to mention, going to a university with thousands of other students requires the ability to keep up with many different friendships. She always encouraged me to do my best to balance it all, but not being perfect at everything all the time is something to grow from, not feel defeated over.
3. Everything happens for a reason. At the end of the day, we don’t know how certain situations are going to work out. Both wonderful and terrible things happen to everyone, but everything works out for a bigger purpose in your life. The good and the bad all become learning experiences and form you into the person you are meant to be at end of it all.
4. How to forgive people who have ruined you to some degree. Every person that’s a part of your life affects you in one way or another. There are always going to be toxic people that will negatively impact you as a person, but you need to learn from that and be big enough to forgive and move on. Leave the past in the past.
5. How to refrain from blasting my speakers. I love my music loud, simple as that. Our RA freshmen year was constantly coming to our door advising us to turn the music down. I have learned to keep it low and avoid the possibility of getting written up and ticking off every other person on our floor.
6. How to rock converse at parties. I don’t understand how girls can wear dresses and heels to a majority of the parties that they attend. After about an hour of that, I become convinced that heels are of the devil. Be bold and be comfortable. No one is going to say anything. More often than not, people respect things that are unusual.
7. If you want something, you will get it even if it’s not the way you originally planned. Hard work pays off and dedication is rewarded. Whatever you’re passionate about will work it’s way out, whether or not it’s the way you expected the journey to go. Just be open to new paths that lead to the same destination. Do not settle, but fight for the things that you want the most.
8. How to make decent drinks with cheap alcohol. When you have to deal with strong tasting and sometimes downright disgusting liquor, you have to get creative. Everyone becomes a bartender in college. She always had some new flavor mixture of Burnettes to try out on a Friday night. Some of the best were pink lemonade vodka with lemonade, sweet tea vodka with lemonade (like an Arnold Palmer), tropical fruit vodka and Code Red Mountain Dew, the list goes on.
9. How to fall in love with serving and traveling. There are so many things out there to see in the world and so many people that are not blessed with everything we’re blessed with, especially attending such an amazing university. Get out of your comfort zone. Visit as many places as you can and see all of the beauty new places have to offer. Love people who have lost hope in their condition and help out in the places that need help.
10. You don’t have to go out every night. She taught me that just because you don’t go out doesn’t mean you’re missing out on anything. There are hundreds of frat parties to come, so saving yourself the tediousness of getting ready and walking to whatever house on whatever street on Grand River can be nice occasionally. Have a girl’s night, pick a Netflix show, play a card game (Cards Against Humanity is always a good time), talk, relax, and enjoy time with your best friends.
11. A box of wine goes a long way. Sometimes you just need to have a wine and movie night to just take a break and relax. Franzia is cheap, but having a couple of glasses here and there makes it last a long time with only two girls, despite the fact that it takes up half the space a mini fridge has to offer.
12. Pressure makes diamonds. The college years can be some of the hardest of our lives, but also the best. We will face some of the hardest challenges and obstacles, but what we learn and the outcome is what shapes us. She taught me that the prettiest, most prestigious things come from being under pressure and facing hardships. The greatest accomplishments come from trials faced and the hard work it takes to overcome them.
