With it being summer, many are in the transition between high school and college. Or, even if you are returning to school, there is always the struggle about deciding what to do for your housing situation. Perhaps you have a close friend in mind, or are playing an intense game of roomie-speed-dating in order to find the perfect match. There is nothing necessarily wrong with either of those, but what about a random roommate? Sure, there are some horror stories out there about that one crazy person whose roommate never let them sleep, or kept their dead hamster in the freezer… Before you go through all of that, here are a few reasons why you should give a random roommate a chance:
1. You start off with no expectations.
Sometimes when you room with a close friend or someone you specifically chose, you have certain ideas about how your relationship as roommates should be. Unfortunately, sometimes this isn’t the perpetual sleepover like you planned. Not knowing this other person forces you to communicate and have those tough conversations about rules and boundaries in the beginning of the year. Unlike perhaps when you think that your friend already knew all of your habits. It’s useful to lay down these expectations before you start to like them.
2. You do not have to be best friends.
You don’t have to be best friends, but you can grow to be. There is an upside to perhaps not being best friends off the bat, this other person doesn’t have to get upset when you are busy. You can cohabitate together without being joined at the hip. He or she can understand that you have your own activities and friends outside of your shared room, and know that it’s ok. Because you are in the same situation, you can be the person there when each other comes home without being the only person in their life. However, some may come to find that coming home to this person can blossom into a friendship that you want to integrate into the rest of your life, and that is phenomenal.
3. You gain new perspectives.
Because you didn’t know this person at first, there is a level of judgment that does not yet exist, which may enable the both of you to help each other with problems even more, unbiased. Living with someone new gives you new perspectives on subjects you have not previously explored, gives you new views on issues you hadn’t heard another argument on, and bring you to believe new things about others and yourself.
4. You can be surprised.
What is life without surprises? A lot of people room with someone they know simply because of that and think that it will eliminate surprises. Although, it could be a good thing. The initial opinion you had about that roommate in the beginning of the year could change by the end of the term. Maybe you have reservations about this person, and could be completely wrong. They could turn out to be the most honest, the most understanding, and the most supportive person you could have asked to come home to.
5. There is real life application.
It will not be the first time you are thrown into a new situation with a new person; it teaches good coping skills for future endeavors. Having this random roommate teaches you to not judge from a first impression. It teaches you to learn someone’s story, struggles, and hardships. You learn how to be there for someone in the ways that they need it. And if you are lucky, you may get that in return.
In no way am I saying that you should room with just anyone, and if there’s a hamster in your freezer, trust your gut. But maybe, just maybe, you will give a random roommate a chance.
