In my first semester of college, one of my biggest fears for college came true.

My roommate and I did not get along.

We were total opposites. Somewhat like the popular Katy Perry song ‘Hot and Cold,’ we were on completely different ends of the spectrum when it comes to personality. She was yes. I was no. She was up. I was down. It was not necessarily in that order but, you get the point.

She would wake up super early while I preferred to stay up late. When she woke up she went straight for the curtains, but I always wanted a few more minutes in the dark, under my covers. She was quiet and to herself while I wanted to get to know her. I wanted a best friend and I ended up with the opposite.

Long story short, we went our separate ways. By November, she had abruptly packed up her stuff and moved to another dorm. I was left alone in a two-person dorm. It definitely is not the worst way things could have went. At least we got our distance and I got some extra space.

Yet, I was terrified for my next year of college. My plans up until that point had been to hopefully become best friends with my first college roommate and room with her for the next four years. Obviously, that would not be the case.

I was on a desperate search for a roommate. At one point, I had decided on rooming in a single. After all, I enjoyed my space and the quiet environment that I was left with when my roommate moved. However, a single dorm is a little too expensive for my taste and I was left again searching for a roommate. The last thing I wanted to do was leave the situation up to fate and go into a two-person dorm by myself to await a random roommate selection. It could turn out like my first year or worse. I would not do that again.

The deadline to pick my room in a residential learning community for the next year was quickly approaching and I was still searching, even more desperately at this point.

The day before the deadline, I got lucky and I mean really lucky.

I was sitting in the dining hall with my group of friends. I had recently met the girl who would soon become my roommate. We got along quite well, but I really knew nothing about her at this point. My friends and I were discussing our plans to pick out all the rooms in the substance free learning community for our sophomore year of college. Four of my friends would split into two dorms and I was the fifth wheel. My choices at that point were to select a single across the hall or select a random double or triple and wait for someone else to do the same.

Our other friend, my soon to be roommate Hannah, was planning to room in the Honors residential learning community. She was going to room in a single.

But, when she heard of our plans, she wanted to be on the same floor as the rest of our friend group, but she had the same problem I did – no roommate. Her roommate had similarly moved out in the first semester. We both reached a conclusion at the same time – we would room together.

By odd and extremely lucky circumstances, Hannah managed to get a spot in the substance free community. Even though she had not filled out the application with us, and our entire friend group managed to get rooms on the same floor – with Hannah and I becoming new roommates.

Now, for next year, I am simply hoping we get along.

That should not be a problem, though. As Forrest Gump would say, Hannah and I get along like peas and carrots.

So, Hannah, this next part is for you. My new roommate.

As we approach our sophomore year college, I wish only the best for us. You are the best friend roommate that I have always wanted.

We have tested the waters, sitting across from each other in my dorm working on homework. We got to know each other – our favorite bands and movies. You even convinced me to start watching Vampire Diaries on Netflix.

We discussed things that could go wrong. You know that I am a light sleeper and the slightest bump in the night can wake me up. You know that it is best to keep the curtains closed in the morning, so I can spend my last sweet seconds under the covers. I know when to be there for you when you get stressed and too much work is piling up. We both know how to communicate to work things out.

I cannot wait to have you as a roommate. I look forward to late nights staying up talking and learning new things about each other. I am glad I will have someone to be there for me when college gets stressful, as it usually does, and I am glad I can be there to return the favor. I am so excited for weekends and all the crazy shenanigans that await us.

In the short time that I have had to get to know you, I know you are the roommate that I was always meant to have. We became quick best friends and I know I can make it through three more years of college because I will have you by my side.

In a few months, we will have classes and a lot of work which is definitely a downer. But, there is nothing better than toughing it out with your best friend. We can destress with waffles at Waffle Frolic or early morning breakfast outings at the Towers Dining Hall. There will always be plenty of ice cream at Purity and I swear I will get you to come to a running club practice or two.

So please know that even during times when we may not get along, this unexpected roommate pairing will probably be one the best parts of our college experience. We are going to have the time of our lives.