Figuring out your rooming situation for your freshman year of college is supposed to be exciting. You’re supposed to find your “perfect match”, make cute Pinterest boards for decoration ideas, and live happily ever after. I had found my “perfect match”, began creating all the Pinterest boards, and we had started planning out our lives for freshman year together. However, when the official rooming assignments came out, I didn’t see the name of my “perfect match” listed anywhere. I saw Haley’s and was infuriated.
So infuriated that I decided to reach out to her and say:
Now, looking back on this, I do realize that I should have handled this a lot differently. I probably shouldn’t have said anything at all but alas, my anxiety and frustrations got the best of me and I made an irrational decision. Further down the road, once Haley and I had a chance to cool down, I apologized and made amends. However, this most certainly didn’t guarantee a squeaky clean fresh start come move-in day.
The first few weeks were really awkward for me. At first, I could only take her in small doses because I wasn’t sure what to think of her. I didn’t know anything about this girl that was sleeping five feet away from me and I was really uncomfortable. My parents would keep calling to see how things were going with her.
At one point they had asked me if I needed to switch rooms so I would be more comfortable. I couldn’t be more thankful for the fact that I chose to stick it out and live with this crazy creature because she has become one of my best friends and biggest supporters.
I had a rough first semester and can honestly say I would not have survived it without the unconditional love and support from my roommate. All her words of wisdom came at an unexpected rate. Of all people on this earth, I would not have expected to receive any sort of help from the girl who I asked to find a new place to live because I didn’t want to live with her.
Through my times of struggle, I realized what a blessing it was having her in my life. After this mental breakthrough of mine, I became more open-minded to the idea of letting this person into my life and really letting her get to know me. Since then, it has been nothing but smooth sailing. We have never once fought, had beef with one another, or have had a struggle with our relationship.
Our days are filled with sharing memes, complaining about homework, bowling, milkshake runs, and laughter filled nights while watching Netflix. These are the kind of days I don’t foresee ending anytime soon.
Haley’s role in my life has taught me to let whatever is happening happens. I have learned to roll with the punches even though I thought I already knew how to. She has taught me to be a better person and how to be a more open individual instead of being so closed off to others.
This experience has taught me to welcome everyone I meet with open arms because if I don’t, I could be missing out on a swell individual. A swell individual like Haley; the girl who I asked to move out last August only to find that a year later, I will be choosing to live with her again in our own house. Funny what can happen in just a years time, right?