The most exciting part of going to boarding school for me was meeting new people who later became my friends. One of the scariest but fun parts was meeting my roommate for the first time. I'd have to say it was awkward. I mean, I had only known her name and that she was from Germany. Then, all of a sudden I was meeting her?

A couple of thoughts that ran through my head were:

"How does she look?"

"I hope we will we get along well."

My expectations were different from my reality. I thought meeting my roommate for the first time in boarding school wouldn't be too bad. Actually, it was awkward. Really awkward. I didn't know what to say to her or how to introduce myself. My name is Andrea but everyone calls me Aa for short, and I thought explaining my strange nickname wouldn't be a great first conversation starter. Later, I found out that my nickname was German slang for something inappropriate.

On the bright side, if you exclude the awkwardness and downsides of a roommate, you can cherish the advantages. Here are the pros and cons of having one.

Pros

1. There is always someone to talk to.

Whether it may be about how your day at school went or a problem, your roommate can be there to listen. I always enjoy those midnight talks when it's lights out and you technically have to be in bed asleep, but you end up gossiping or having an enlightening conversation with your roommate.

2. You can end up being the best of friends, or at least close friends.

With all the various roommates I've encountered, there was one thing in common, and that was getting to know each other part a little better, whether it was during a 12-day camping trip in the middle of nowhere or during a three-day choir festival event in a foreign country. No matter how long the time is spent together, there will always be some sort of bond you form.

3. If you go to an international school, you have the chance to meet someone from a different country.

My boarding school consists of a large international population, thus giving me the opportunity to meet someone from a different country. If that's not the case, you'll definitely meet someone from a different state or place than you, and that's always interesting.

Four countries representing Verde Valley School's Swim Team.

4. During school breaks, you can have a place to stay or someone to visit.

Another plus side of having friends from all over the world is, possibly having a place to stay. I know people who have spent Thanksgiving break at their roommate's home. Also, if you plan to travel around a certain country or area, you're most likely going to have a friend that's from that place. I'm blessed and fortunate to have friends from all around the world. If I name the countries and places... well that would be a pretty long list. After all, it's nice to be immersed in such a diverse community.

5. You learn to compromise.

Compromising helps you as you get older. When you have a roommate, you learn how to agree on certain things. Depending how your living arrangement is, some situations may differ. I learned how to compromise my personal space, like which side I can place my belongings. Also, how to deal with my roommate when she wants to turn off the lights because she's going to bed or vice versa. You end up learning what works and what doesn't. In the beginning, you're still learning how to live with someone you don't really know. But if you learn how to compromise with one another, you can learn to peacefully coexist in your living habitat.

Cons

1. You don't have much or any privacy.

Depending on how your relationship with your roommate and their personality turns out, you get little to no privacy in your room. From my personal experience, I found comfort, peace, and quiet in the common rooms. My room was usually loud or filled with many people right up until study hall (from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.). Instead of coming home to a relaxing and peaceful bedroom, I was welcomed with screams and loud music blasting from speakers. Since the majority of the students boarded, you get surprise visitors throughout the day as well. It's just a part of life you have to learn how to manage and cope.

2. The mornings can be crazy!

When you live with a room full of girls, getting ready in the morning can be a marathon. There's a party in the bathroom and the showers get occupied quickly. It's pretty much a first-come, first-serve basis. Don't even get me started on the alarms. There's always that one person with the loudest alarm that never, I repeat, never shuts it off. I might be guilty of having a loud alarm but I at least know when to turn it off.

3. When it's time for room checks, you have to cooperate to have a clean room.

Sometimes you're not lucky enough to have an organized and clean roommate. This can happen. The disadvantage is to learn how to have your room cleaned together. When communication fails, you can end up failing room checks. I've experienced having half of the room clean while the other half not, and this still counts as a messy room.

4. When they're blasting loud music but you want peace and quiet.

Some say that opposites do attract, but what if "they" are wrong? It's nice to have some different attributes and interests with your roommate, but it can also drive you crazy. When they're blasting a genre of music you dislike, you can end up being annoyed at them. Your roommate could also be playing loud music when you want to sleep or snuggle up and read a good book. These moments can turn from being uncomfortable to irritating.

5. Be careful of your belongings.

It's pretty natural to give your roommate the benefit of the doubt. But sometimes, your personal belongings can be taken for granted. I've experienced my stuff taken or used without permission, and later when I need it, it's gone. If you're a person like me, I suggest writing your name on all your personal belongings.

In the end of the day, don't forget to thank your roommate for the possible life lessons you learned in the time you've lived together. The time you've spent with them might be more memorable than you thought.