To My Freshman Year Roommate:
I can’t begin to explain how much I miss you. I’ll admit it, I was apprehensive about living together at first, but I mean, who wouldn’t be? It was the first time I had ever shared a living space with anyone for a more than temporary amount of time. I realized though when I finally moved in, there was no need for apprehension—our little room in the dumps of Friedman Hall soon became my home, all because of you.
I don’t know what I would’ve done if we didn’t get along as well as we did and I want to say thank you for that. I honestly don’t think I would have been able to survive the freshman year without you. On top of the stress from the process of transferring to another school, there was always another exam, more homework, and drama within friends groups to deal with I’m more than thankful that you were always there for me when I needed it.
I’m glad you were able to deal with my almost too often complaining, and I’m glad that when you came home, you would fling yourself onto your bed, and join in with me. I’m grateful that we became close enough for you to be able to tell me when I was overreacting and needed to chill out, and I’m glad that even when I was, you still always had my back.
And in another account of you dealing with me…
Thank you for letting me experience having a kitten, even if we were only able to keep it for a couple of weeks. Looking back, it was definitely a terrible idea, but terrible ideas make for the best stories, right? I’m going to be honest, it was definitely one of the highlights of the year.
When we went over our roommate assignment, we both agreed we didn’t like to share, but you always did. When I’d wake up in the morning with a massive hangover from our adventures the night before, I could always count on your Belvita crackers to save the day.
I'll never forget the day I moved out, both of us knowing that I wouldn't be returning the next fall. My heart broke in half as the car pulled away and I watched you to wave until I was out of sight—I had to try with all I could not to fall apart in front of the Uber driver. It may have been one of the saddest goodbyes of my life, but I’m thankful that we can say that having to say goodbye to each other was the worst breakup of our lives.
I know that I said I’d never miss it there, but I guess I have to admit that sometimes I do. Though, I think that’s mostly because in all of the great memories I have from last year, you were always there.
Even though we’re no longer a room-length apart from each other, I know we’ll always stay friends. You were definitely one of the most important people in my life last year- you became my best friend, you taught me patience, how to be a good roommate, and how to be a better person, and for that, I will always be grateful.
You were right, no one will ever replace you.
