To my freshman year roommates:
The idea of not one but two randomly assigned roommates was one of the greatest sources of anxiety for me coming into college. The reality is that someone could have a picture perfect life outside of the dorm, but if they have to come home every night to misery and tension, their overall happiness can suffer significantly. Buzz Feed and College Humor videos detailing all the horrific kinds of roommates one might have had me on edge, and I prayed that things wouldn’t be too terrible. As soon as I got your names, I stalked you both on Facebook and Instagram, which made me even more anxious. I knew what you looked like but not what you were actually like, and that tormented me. Come move in day, I was at least slightly relieved that my first impressions of you were positive. I observed that you were both easy to talk to. And as we began our college careers together, somewhere along the way, I realized that you were pretty much the best roommates anyone could ever ask for. For this reason, I would like to dedicate this post to thanking you both for a wonderful freshman year.
Thank you for being friendly, but never overbearing.
If I had had to live with cold, stand-offish roommates all year, I would have been miserable. But you are both warm, approachable, and pleasant at all times, so thank you for that. That being said, I was probably equally as worried about having roommates who were too clingy and social. Since I’m an introverted person who needs alone time, I had no idea how I was going to survive a year of living with two people without privacy. However, because of your laid back personalities, I could always come into the dorm room and relax comfortably as if I were alone. I think we all needed our downtime, and I’m so grateful that we had that in common. If I had had a roommate who fed off of endless social interactions, it would have exhausted me.
Thank you for having great senses of humor.
I’m so glad we could always laugh together whether it was over trolling on Yik Yak, getting hit on by creepy guys, or taking care of drunk hall mates. It’s pretty miraculous that we all had the same sense of humor, and I think it made the year substantially more enjoyable for all of us.
Thank you for not judging me.
As much as I was worried about whether or not I would like my roommates, I was probably twice as worried about whether or not my roommates would like me. It didn’t take long for me to feel like I could be my weird self around you and open up. Thanks for not judging me for the weird leg stretches I do in my bed or the bizarre conversation topics I would like to bring up from time to time. (I won’t name them here, but you know what they are).
Thank you for the memories.
Sorry for being cheesy, but I really do cherish the memories we made this year, and I can’t wait to make more next year. Even though I was always swamped with work, sorority events, and dance practices, I never felt like these things distanced me from you. Our relationships were constant throughout the year, and I always knew I could hang out with you in my free time. Thanks for always being down to let me tag along to your late night shenanigans. Thanks for the few times we invited hall mates into our room for some trap music and dancing. Of course, thanks for the fun and interesting conversations we had.
From all of us catching deadly illnesses at the same time to developing synchronized ovulation schedules, I guess you could say we were pretty in sync. Even though I won’t be living with you next year, I’m so glad that I’ll be so close by, and I mean it when I say we are going to hang out as much as possible. Because of both of you, my freshman dorm experience was perfect, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. Thank you for everything, and I can’t wait for next year.
Sincerely,
Your Roomie
