When I first heard I was going to be living in a quad during my sophomore year of college, I was speechless. I always had my own room and I knew this was going to be a major adjustment. I would now have to work my sleep schedule around three other people. I always took having my own room for granted and never realized how lucky I was.

Although it was hard to get used to, I am grateful that my roommates and I went to sleep around the same time. However, the major difference between my roommates and I was that I took a lot of naps during the day. It was often difficult to find a time to rest because of my friends' busy schedules. However, I learned how to sleep with the lights on and made sure I wore ear plugs every night.

Although I would never want to live in a quad again, I learned a lot from this experience. Due to living in a quad I believe I have become more accommodating and respectful of people's needs. I also realized the importance of staying organized. I have always been an extremely neat person, but when you live with three other people it is likely that your clothes and valuable items will get lost. It is essential to label everything that you have and put your clothes away immediately after wearing them.

In addition to staying organized, it is important to communicate openly. If you are constantly disagreeing with your roommates and having petty arguments, this will make your life a lot harder. If you do not voice your thoughts and concerns in a kind manner, nothing will get resolved. I have learned to only pick fights that are worth fighting for.

Lastly, in order to stay sane you should try to spend time outside of the room. You most likely are with your roommates a good portion of the day and it is important to spend quality time with other people too.