Enter Mike Gehan, my freshman year roommate. We came from pretty different worlds. Mike's family was only twenty minutes away from campus, whereas mine was two and a half hours. While I attended a private all boys highschool, Mike attended a public high school. I was an english major and Mike was undecided.

I was going to be rooming with one of my friends from highschool. There was going to be a group of five of us all going to Aquinas, but that number plummeted to one. I knew there was another guy from my class going but at this point I wanted to chance my odds in hopes of getting a good roommate; I could not have asked for a better guy.

Mike got his roommate info packet before I did, so when he texted me it went something like this.

Mike Hey bro!!! What's up?

Tom Not much. (Anxiously texts) How're you?

Mike Fantastic bro!!!! Hahahaha

Tom I'm sorry who is this?

Mike Bro. It's me. Haha

Tom Bro, I don't have your number. (Seriously question who this mystery stranger could be)

Mike Dude! I'm your college roommate!!!!!!!!!

I'm not going to lie, at first I thought that he wasn't this energetic in person. He is. I met Mike in late August of 2014. I walked into room 203 with my parents and found him there with his parents. We got along perfectly. He wanted the bottom bunk and I wanted the top bunk. Most of our classes were at the same time and we even had two together. I was somewhat reserved and quiet. Mike was the exact opposite. Everybody that we walked by wherever we went, on or off campus, Mike said hi to them. Everyone he met wanted to be his friend, he attracted people like no-one I had ever seen.

As time went on we realized that we had so much in common. Same faith. Same music. Similar sense of humor. Similar hobbies. And the biggest most important thing, we like the exact opposite kind of girls. Even around christmas time and afterwards, when people start to get sick of their roommate, Mike and I grew ever closer. It was like I had got another brother. We did almost everything together, navigating the treacherous waters of a new freedom we had never experienced. The sad thing was Mike had to go home on the weekends to work; whereas, I had an on-campus job. The worst difference between us that we found out that year was that Mike was (and is) disgusted with nutella.

Like all good things, the year ended and Mike and I had to split ways, and for months! As you know, we survived it. We stayed roommates for sophomore year adding a nice fellow named Cordell to the family and the three of us are rooming together for this upcoming year with our friend Eric. Mike has been one of my absolute closest friends in these past two years. He's someone I can tell anything at any time, arguably the most reliable and best influence for me in this odd transition stage of my life.

Thanks Mike. I owe you one.