Coming to college or moving out of your family home typically includes getting roommates. Sometimes you hit it off right away and other times you are just praying to get through the next semester. Hopefully you're roommate/ suitemate experience goes as smooth as these typical stages.
1. Formal stage
Introducing yourself on the first day is incredibly awkward. Just knowing you have to share a small space from now on, including that night as you sleep, is a weird thought when you have no idea who these new people are. You try to act all friendly and trusting but secretly you're trying assess their level of murder capabilities. You start to go through the first week trying to be friends with someone you don't know and discover how they live daily.
2. Friendly Living Stage
So now you know your roommates, well kind of, and you're sharing a small space together. You're discovering how they live- their routine, their nasty habits, and everything in between.You knock before coming into the bathroom, respect times they have company, and always are sure to have on pants. If they overstep their boundaries or do something that totally grosses you out, you just deal with it because you aren't comfortable enough to say something. On the inside you may be horrified but all you can do is smile and act like everything is A-OK.
3. All-Cards-On-The-Table Stage
You've kept your mouth shut too long and the hair wad in the shower plus the tampon wrappers on the counter was your last straw. You have to say something. Anything. You won't survive another minute living like this. With midterms and guy confusion- a roommate should be the least of your confusion. So with all guns loaded, you march up to them to yell at them for the disgusting mess they keep making but it comes out " Hey could you kind of, sort of, keep stuff cleaner?" Then it is their response that drags you to the next stage.
4. Realization stage
With their understanding and apologetic response, you come to the realization that you had some pretty awesome people sharing your space. Yea they have flaws, but so do you! I mean you never take out the trash! With all this time of tip-toeing around them you could've been getting close and making friends! Half of you want to kick yourself and the other half is too excited because you're roommates aren't as strange as you first thought.
5. Friends Stage
Now you've bonded with your roommates and ultimately became friends. You now walk around with no pants, use the bathroom with the door open, and barge into their room in search for food. You now don't know how you went the beginning of the semester not living this way. From always having someone there to listen, to having a permanent eating and movie buddy- having a roommate was the best thing to ever happen.
The good of making new friends, the bad of learning how to live with others, and all the awkward moments that come in between- having a roommate is an experience that you will never forget nor want to!
