To my favorite (and only) freshman year roommate,
Do you remember move in day? The exciting, yet awkward moment when we met and both had a simple, but odd realization, “we are going to be spending every moment together for the next nine months.” It was slightly exhilarating as we each began to daydream about the memories we would make on that beautiful campus. I don't think anybody could have prepared us for the adventures we were about to face.
Actually, move in day was a pretty good description of how the next year would go for us. As we nearly sweat to death carrying a fridge and PBteen bedding up the three floors of stairs, we bonded over smeared makeup and greasy hair. Then, as we said goodbye to our parents and prepared for the next months of freedom, we bonded over fears, dreams, plans and goals. We were still sweating from the lack of air-conditioning in the small room we were about to make home. We ran to the car for a quick bit of cool relief.
That’s when it got interesting. As we exited the building, the rain began to fall… and there was a lot of it. The streets started to flood and neither of us being prepared, just laughed. Soaked, cold, and a little uncomfortable, we decided to drive the streets of Indianapolis. That sparked hours of long conversation regarding the past and how it shaped us, the present and how we thought it would change us and the future and where we hoped we’d end up. In that moment, I had never been more at ease.
The next several months progressed just like that. It was a series of sometimes difficult challenges, but each one was made better, because I always had you, my roommate, next to me. At the end of long, hard days I could come back to the room and confide in you about everything, the good and the bad. First semester was a tough one, between getting adjusted to school and the series of unfortunate events occurring outside of school, there were days I definitely wasn't too easy to deal with.
Christmas break came around and saying goodbye to you for only three weeks was tough. Then came recruitment and bid day… the best of them all. That day you went from my roommate to my sister, but so quickly and so effortlessly, you had also become my best friend and my person. I always knew I could count on you to be there at the end of the day, or the middle of the night or even first thing in the morning.
Between late nights watching Netflix and complaining about how soon we had to wake up, to lunch dates between classes at the dining hall and several stops at Starbucks for a “mid-day pick me up,” you became the person I texted for advice and ran to when I was having any kind of problem. We quickly learned about each other’s moods and how to help when there was a problem. We learned how to comfort each other, like buying stuffed animal puppies at Target, because why not.
I guess it is kind of starting to sound like we’re in a relationship, but I mean the speed dating for a roommate on Facebook kicked that one off. Just kidding, but seriously, thank you for being my roommate and providing me with a series of memories I will never be able to forget. Thank you for playing Nicki Minaj to get me in a good mood for a night out, and thank you for playing sad Taylor Swift when we were both in the mood to cry. You are the best roommate I could have asked for, especially for a year that was full of fun, but challenging experiences.
As I sit at home this summer, and reflect on the best year of my life this far, I can tell you, you were such a main part of it. Now, going to bed without you a couple feet away feels unnatural. Not having your pep-talks when I need them makes life a little tougher ,and not having someone to blast 2000’s Hip-Hop radio on Pandora makes life a little more boring. I can’t thank you enough for this past year; for the constant adventure and the time of our lives.
With that said, I’m sure as heck happy I don't have to say goodbye. I hope you’re ready to do it all again. Thanks for agreeing to be my roommate for another semester.. just with eight other girls, too.
