To My College Roommate,

For most students who go away to college, dorm life is a big change. Along with the new challenge of living without parental guidance comes the opportunity to live with someone new. To someone like myself, who has never had to share a room with a sibling, the prospect of living with a roommate seemed scary. But what I wasn't expecting was an experience that would completely change my life.

When we first moved in as freshmen, we were young and curious. We planned get togethers in our room and then spent hours the next morning throwing out the endless red solo cups. Our first fight was resolved when we were both hungry in bed and decided that there was no one closer in proximity to us who would be down to get a late night snack. We chose to become roommates, but everything that followed had to be fate.

As we finish our second year of living together, I constantly find myself realizing the great impact you've had on my life. Through the years, we've learned each other's quirks and habits. We've learned when the other person is upset and that the question, "Are you OK?" will be repeatedly asked until someone comes clean. I may not have my mom and dad at school, but I always know I have you to come home to.

Having a roommate teaches you how to respect one another's boundaries. Sure, it's not always a walk in the park, and we may step on each other's toes, but learning how to overcome that is a life skill we have both mastered. Not to mention, we've become so good at sharing space that we live in near perfect harmony.

When we're both in our room, we chat about our days. We exchange advice, and we laugh as I yell at you for not taking mine. I've seen you happy, sad, angry, scared, in love and heartbroken, and they're all emotions I welcomed without any judgment.

I'll never forget when my world was falling apart, and I tried my best to hide it, but you took one look at me and held me as I cried. You've seen me at my worst, and you've never hesitated to be there. Oftentimes, talking things out with you makes me feel about a million times better; it's as if you're my live-in therapist.

Other than caring for one another, we've successfully worn each other's entire closet. "Do you have a shirt I can wear with those pants I just bought?" isn't a text I have to think twice about. "Just look through my closet," I say — we have that much trust.

I'm not going to lie and say we've spent every waking moment together and we've never had an argument, but our relationship goes past being friends. We're family, a small family that resides in the minuscule room we occupy on campus. I'm not sure what it will be like living on my own next year, but I know I'll sure miss having you there. Two years, four semesters and endless memories. You will always be my first, my last and my only college roommate. I will cherish it forever, and I can only hope that others have the same experience.

Sincerely,

Your foreva roomie