Going into college, I was told countless times to not live with your best friend(s). Everyone said that we would end up hating each other, not speaking or a combination of the two.

I could see this happening with some people, and I have seen it. However, this is not the case for us. I credit our similar personalities and habits as well as the bond that we have.

The key to successfully living with a friend would be to make sure you are similar. Just like rooming with a stranger, make sure you have similar cleanliness, sleep, and studying habits. If one of these categories is off by a lot, there will be a huge stress on your friendship. Trust us, there are plenty of things that will try to pull you guys apart as it is.

You don't have to live with your friend to keep them as a friend. So many people think that their friends will stop hanging out with them just because they don't live in the same room, false.

There are a few things you should know when rooming with your friend. Keeping an open mind to change is key. I came to college thinking I'd be asleep at 9 every night and waking up at 9 each morning. However, your different schedules may keep you up later or wake you up earlier and as the other roommate, you have to accept that they aren't trying to keep you up or wake you up.

Time apart is also key to a successful roommate relationship. If you both plan on joining sororities, my personal suggestion would be to try and going different sororities. This way you won't be attached at the hip 24/7 and each of you will make new friends and make one big friend group! Our girl gang rocks!

College isn't for everyone and each person has a different experience with classes and such. If you are succeeding and your roommate isn't, try to get them to study with you, get help from a tutor or see their professor. As the roommate, you have such an influential role in what they see and what they should do.

To my roommate/ best friend since 7th grade,

You girly are the best thing ever. You make me smile, laugh and cry(for good reasons, like right now). You have pushed me to be my best self. You have brought light and love into my life and helped me to realize so many things.

I appreciate your kindness and understanding through the last 8 and a half months. Also, huge thanks for being so clean and letting me scream when classes are stupid. Hopefully when we live together in a year (please please please) no one will come up and complain about how loud we are.

Love,

Your biggest fan!!