I was recently talking with my roommate about how lucky we were and the reasons why our rooming situation worked so well, and I decided to write a few of them down. I hope these either remind you of someone in your life or they’re helpful to someone in your life.

1. Don’t force it

When you first get to college, your first instinct might be to stick to your roommate and spend as much time with them as possible. Most of that it is probably based on the fact that you’re in a new environment and might be a little uncomfortable or shy. My roommate and I were separate for most of the first semester and now we’re practically inseparable. Don’t worry, you’ll be with them plenty over the course of the next semester.

2. Nicknames

You can always tell when people are really close friends when they have nicknames for each other. My roommate and I have a multitude of weird nicknames, from: “Princess”, “Meme mom”, and even “Troll”. They can be funny, endearing, or just short versions of one's name. The nicknames we use vary based on how we’re feeling and the situation. The key to creating or acquiring a nickname for someone else or yourself is to let it happen naturally.

3. Catchphrases and inside jokes

Inside jokes are key to roommate bonding. Throughout the year, my roommate and I have created a type of language made up of phrases and inside jokes that we’ve created a history around. For example out of context, we say things in weird voices like: “Hot Damn” or “Cha Feel”. Basically, our relationship is full of giggles. This part of a roomie bond is almost guaranteed. When you spend so much time with someone in addition to living with them, they witness all your quirks and these sort of jokes develop naturally.

4. Go on adventures frequently

Every adventure counts. Any time you leave the room might turn out to be a great roommate adventure. My roommate and I take trips to the grocery store, mall, and various places on campus all the time. Simple trips to the grocery store with my roommate are the most fun and offer a great chance to bond because we get to pool our money and see what we can actually afford. The poor college student’s spending spree. There's something about shared stocks of ramen noodles that really makes you feel bonded to someone.

5. Plan trips together

Utilize all breaks from school as times to plan for future adventures; planning adventures gives you something to look forward to. For instance, my roommate and I had the idea to visit Canada for spring break and began planning. We soon found that we couldn’t go for various reasons and we immediately began scheduling other adventures for future breaks. Even though grand plans may be out of the question for many college students, taking the time to plan and dream about future adventures and trips is fun in and of itself.

Even if you don't end up being best friends, your relationship with your college roommate is very unique and special, especially with your first roommate. I hope that you and your roommate or future roommate become as close as my roommate and I have. Best of luck!