No matter where you live, you will likely always have neighbors. Sometimes, they can be the biggest blessing in your life or they can be the biggest pain in the butt. This real-world situation will always be in college even if you commute. Whether you live off campus or in a residence hall, neighbors are unavoidable. Given my experience living on and off campus, here just some of the types of neighbors you will likely encounter in college.
1. The Tattletale
As someone who went to their RA (Resident Advisor) their freshman year and then became the RA during my sophomore year, I can honestly say that my RA appreciated me approaching her since I didn't know how to live with roommates and helped me learn how to solve adult problems. As someone on the RA side, I can now understand why tattletales are the worst. Having a new update on the smallest things every day can be annoying. The best you can do is to give your students the tools to learn how to handle the situation on their own. Regardless, you'll always have that neighbor calling police or knocking on your door when a pin drops. They're frequently called "snoops" or "snitches."
2. The Partner That Never Leaves
Have you ever had a roommate who had a random boyfriend/girlfriend/partner basically living with them and they do nothing to contribute at all to the home? Well, this happens all the time with neighbors. They won't live there every day or you may hear how the roommate "doesn't know" when they clearly know. You hear the fights break out and conflict escalate. Like, don't be a freeloader. Clean the place up, pay some utility bills, help with rent, or just straight up find a place to live with your partner and move out.
3. The Partiers
This is such a year-round problem that I can't even begin to go there. If it's nice out from May until August, then they're outside turning up or stay out super late and come back waking up everyone either talking, falling over (see "The Elephant") or cranking up music. From September until November, they're generally tailgating or pregaming. From January until March, they stay in which is even worse because the only thing you can do when it's two below zero outside is just stay in. Don't keep up your neighbors by turning up inside or outside. At the very least, cap it off at midnight. Some of us have work in the morning, or are just getting home from work, and we pay rent too.
4. The Aspiring DJs
These folks are my favorite. Of course, keep turning the bass up. Wake up the entire building why don't you? Not like I'm trying to sleep in on a day off or rest up before a long night shift. I'll never understand why people play music with their bass cranked up just unnecessarily loud. Like what are you trying to prove?
5. The Musician
Similarly to "The Aspiring DJ," the musician is much more likable until they start playing their instrument at midnight. I appreciate the free concert, but maybe stay on campus to practice or play music during the day. That would be great.
6. The One That Never Leaves
I had a number of neighbors like this my senior year. One night I heard everyone up at 6 a.m. after they woke me up with their music and talking after going to bed at 3 a.m. after I worked a Friday night. I maybe saw them twice the entire semester outside fo their apartment and that was it. Like do you work? Do you go to class? Do you do yoga? Who the heck knows?
7. The One That's Never Home
Bouncing off of the neighbors who don't leave, we have those that we just never see. Unless they're super quiet (see "The Quiet Ones"), then we never see them. Like ever. I mean that's not a super terrible thing. Just want to see you once in a while so we know you exist is all.
8. The Fighters
Jesus, take the wheel. This is the worst. Maybe worse than the partiers. Whether it's verbal or physical, make sure you have your phone on hand in case they bust through the wall or if you really get super concerned. You pay rent or a mortgage. You deserve to feel safe even if that means your neighbors aren't being safe. I heard breakups happen, people finding out someone cheated on them, couples fighting over something super petty usually, and roommates fighting over random guys popping in and out. I actually had to move bedrooms because it was too much my senior year. It's a mess.
9. The Quiet One
10. The Social Ones
Similarly to "The partiers" or "The Ones Who Never Leave," there are neighbors who always have friends or family over, but that's not necessarily a bad thing within reason. This also makes for a good way to meet new people just by running into them or saying hello. Social neighbors can go either way, almost rarely in between. I had neighbors my freshman year on one side who always partied and talked super late at night while my other neighbors always hung out with their boyfriends and watched movies or listened to music while laughing a lot. Again, it goes both ways.
11. The Gamers
Whether a campaign goes ary, the internet crashes, the game freezes and crashes, or the game just sucks, gamers can be pretty intense. I can speak from personal experience. Half of my residents were super into gaming this past semester and I was too. Sometimes they invest in projectors so you can see what they're playing or you'll just hear the sheer emotion both good or bad. Gamer neighbors are a handful, but they're pretty chill.
12. The Elephants and Thumpers
My other favorite type. From walking loudly upstairs to drunken mishaps to beds squeaking from having sex to furniture moving, you'll have one neighbor that's just always loud no matter what. Invest in a good pair of headphones and you'll be set.
13. The Random People
There will always be that house where you see different people coming and going all the time and you never know who the heck actually lives there. It's half way concerning, but hey, it happens, and as loong as they're not hurting anyone or breaking and laws, then sure.
14. The Stoner
15. The Best Friends (Or Ex-Best Friends!)
I actually saw this right around February when I was just doing my laundry and I saw someone throwing out their roommate's stuff. Yet they were still living there until April. Like is everything okay? Who hurt you?
16. The Potential Best Friend
That beautiful moment you end up actually interacting with your neighbors and they don't suck and they aren't rude. I love when that happens. I'm still good friends with a couple of my past neighbors and they're all awesome people. Anyway, the little interactions and greetings add up hence the potential for friendship. Not a bad deal.
Overall, neighbors can be a bit of a pain but others aren't a pain at all. Make the most of living next to, under, and above others while you can. It's a learning experience and likely won't go away in the real world. You may have more personalities in college or post graduation and that's okay too! Just be prepared and adapt to those personalities accordingly. You never know what will happen.
