I never pictured myself going away to a four-year university.

All throughout my high school career, I had envisioned myself going to community college after graduation. My parents had engraved it into my mind that it was the most affordable option, and that it would benefit me in the long run. But my senior year of high school, I really started to question if that decision was right for me. I knew that I would be missing out on so many new experiences and opportunities by staying at community college. It took many long nights of conversation with my parents, but they eventually decided to let me look at going away to a university.

After applying and touring many different schools, I ultimately made the decision to go to Illinois State University. And to be quite honest, I wasn't sure I made the right decision at first. Don't get me wrong, there were many things that I loved about the school, but I just wasn't sure if it was for me. Nothing really stuck out that made me feel like a had to go here or else I would regret it. Truthfully, I felt like I was settling for this school. But I pushed those thoughts aside and kept telling myself that I'm overthinking and that everything will all work out. And thankfully, that's just what happened.

One of the very first things I had to figure out before going away to school was what many other freshman stress over as well; finding a roommate. Now, I was super excited about this. I was so eager to meet new people and make new friends, and I thought that finding a roommate was the perfect place to start. However, after a few days of talking to new people through a freshman Facebook page, I realized that I was screwed. I talked to at least 5 or 6 different people and they all seemed like people that I would definitely not get along with. I felt so lost, and at this point it seemed like college was already starting to suck before it even started. Weeks started to pass by, and I told myself that I needed to find a roommate. Registration dates for housing were fast approaching and I needed some type of plan on what I was going to do.

That's when an absolute miracle happened. I don't even remember how I heard this, or who I heard it from for that matter, but I heard that this girl from my high school was going to be going to the same school as me and didn't have a roommate yet either. I ended up asking her if she wanted to be roommates and thankfully she said yes. I was so glad to have had this weight finally lifted off my shoulders, but a small part of me was also really scared to be roommates with her. Most of her friends didn't like me at all, so I constantly worried about what she thought about me, or if she secretly hated me too.

As the school year came to an end, and the summer before college went by, we hardly talked. If we did talk, it would mainly be related to school and that's it. Move in day came before we knew it, and honestly I was really, really scared. Looking back on it now, the first few days of living together were pretty uneventful and boring. We usually kept conversation on the small side and didn't really hang out that much. But as the weeks went by, we started talking more, going to parties together, getting most meals together, and basically hanging out any time we could. Before I knew it, we had become best friends. In fact, we would go to parties and convince people we were twin sisters, and I can honestly say that even though we aren't, she really is like a sister to me now.

Not only did my roommate turn into a life long friend, but she also taught me so many things that I would have never known without her. I could go on and on listing all of those things, but I decided to highlight just a few that impacted me the most.

1. Friendship - She showed me what a true friend is.

Freshman year of college can be scary. A lot happens in your life, and things seem to be changing by the minute. I went through a lot of ups and downs this year and she stuck by my side through them all. She always gave me the best advice, helped me through all my problems, and was always there for me when I just needed a shoulder to cry on. She would even push her own problems to the side at times to make sure I was okay. I can truly say that she is one of the most genuine and selfless people I know, and anyone who meets her is lucky to know her.

2. Academic Scholar - She helped me keep my grades up.

I'm not going to lie, I used to be a very careless student. There were so many days where I wanted to sleep in and miss class, or nights where I just didn't feel like finishing an assignment and she kept me away from doing that a lot. She was always reminding me of my potential and encouraging me to do better, because she knew that I could. I without a doubt know that if she wasn't there to motivate me, then my grades would not be as good as they are.

3. Helping Others – She lives for helping other people.

Like I said before, she is one of the kindest people you will ever meet. Right now, she wants to go into a career in Occupational Therapy, which is not an easy thing to do. But her sole motivation behind it is simply because she gets to help people. That's all she ever wants to do is help people. I don't think I've ever met someone who has such a passion for helping others like Megan does, and it makes me want to be a better person because of it. She is always willing to help others before herself, even if it's a complete stranger. Her desire to help others is truly admirable and it's people like her that make the world a better place.

4. Determination – She has such a strong mindset and is always set on reaching her goals.

To be quite honest, Megan has really bad luck with things. There are some times when it seems like the world is against her, but she's never let anything truly stop her. No matter what the obstacle or struggle, she is always finding a way to conquer it and come out on top. If the world is kicking her ass, she just kicks it right back.

5. Healthy Lifestyle

This one might sound dumb to many people, but without Megan, I would have absolutely no idea what true "self-care" is. She has showed me how to start and keep up a good skin care routine, she's showed me what a healthy diet looks like, and has even helped me to keep up a healthy workout routine. I was so worried about gaining the "freshman 15" this year, but the only weight I ended up gaining was in muscle. I became a healthier person this year because of her and I can't thank her enough for it.

With all the horror stories that people have of their terrible roommates, I'm one of the few who was lucky enough to not have that happen to them. I thought I was just getting a roommate, but I got so much more than that. I got someone that I make TikTok's with constantly, someone to be goofy with, a trusted party buddy, a shoulder to cry on, a future bridesmaid, a twin sister and a best friend all in one; there're not many people that can say that.

To Monroe 118, thanks for being the best dorm room ever. And to Megan, thank you for being the best roommate ever. My freshman year wouldn't have been the same had I had a different roommate. Even though our time at Monroe 118 has come to an end, the memories made will last a lifetime.