Anyone who lived in the dorms as a freshman remembers the terrifying yet exhilarating feeling of finding out who your roommate was. However, not everyone gets to experience getting a new roommate twice. After my first semester of college was over, I went home to spend a wonderful break with my family. However, during that break my first roommate decided to start commuting to school and moved out of our dorm, and while this was the best decision for her, it was weird to have lived with someone for almost five months and then they just leave. My first roommate’s departure was unexpected and surprising, but I didn’t know if I would be getting a new roommate and the thought of someone else moving in was stressful. Even though one of my friends had offered to move in with me, nothing had been official so Res Life decided to move someone in for me.
I had not been informed that I was getting a new roommate, so when one of my friends from Texas texted me and said I think someone is moving in, you could imagine my surprise. The whole way back to campus I had been very nervous, and after unpacking my things, I waited anxiously to meet my new roommate. What would she be like? Does she like to stay out late and party? Are we going to get along? Will my life become that movie "The Roommate?" When she didn’t show up for a while, I went to go see my friends and see if they knew anything about my mystery roommate. The only thing I could tell from what was set up on the other side of the room was that she was from Nicaragua.
When all my other questions were left unanswered I decided I would just wait and see what would happen. Compared to my first roommate, my second roommate was the complete opposite. My first roommate did not live far from campus, and was very outgoing. Whereas my new roommate was from Nicaragua and seemed to be quiet and shy. It was a completely new change for me, and for someone who isn’t used to change happening all of the time, this was nerve-racking. All night until I met her, my mom would randomly text me and ask if I had met her yet? My answer was no every time until about nine o’clock that night.
I was so nervous to meet her, and when I did, it was the most awkward thing I had ever done. It was even more awkward than waving back to a person who is actually waving to the person behind you. I remember walking in the room and seeing two people there, so as I was shaking her hand and said, “Hi, I’m Hannah. I live over there.” As I pointed to my bed, I grabbed something and awkwardly left the room to go do anything else because the amount of awkwardness was through the roof.
Adjusting to someone else is difficult, so I wasn’t surprised that we did not talk a lot when we first met. I had just felt bad that when she moved in I didn’t leave the room as clean as possible. I had random things laying around and some of my stuff sitting on top of her desk and dresser. Way to make a good first impression!
Everything worked itself out though, and I can’t even remember why I was so nervous to meet her in the first place because we get along well. I definitely had a little bit of a different freshman college roommate experience than most people. All I know is that when you go to college people will either tell you “You’re going to be best friends with your roommate!” or “You are going to want to punch the wall after being with them for so long.” I’m glad to say that I’ve never felt the need to punch the wall with either one of my roommates.
