Now that most college students are moved in and getting settled in their home away from home, reality is setting in: homework takes over your free time, you really start to miss your family and friends, and you may even be homesick. If you're really unfortunate, you may even be starting to hate (sorry, dislike) your roomate(s).
I experienced this my freshman year, and I still to this day have no idea how I survived two whole semesters. I was in a quad, so I had two roommates who I loved and who felt the same way as me. If you're in a double, you're not so lucky because you just have to deal with the stinky situation. Despite having the two roommates for support, in addition to the friends I made in the dorm and in classes, keeping my cool and dealing with the awkward conversations every day was no walk in the park (or beach if you go to Endicott). But, I did it. And you can too.
My first piece of advice would be to avoid hanging out in your room as much as you can. I know it sucks to have to be the one to sacrifice time in your room, but if your roommate is someone who likes to hibernate in there, you're going to have to suck it up and help yourself. A great place to spend this time is the library. It's a great place to be that not only lets you escape the room, but it also forces you (and sometimes motivates you) to get your work done.
Second, hang out with your friends. I can't even express how much of a difference it made to have friends who sympathized with me and who were willing to take me in for a night when it got to be too much. If these two options are still not enough, the ultimate choice you have is to request a room change. Maybe one of your friends has room in their room or maybe you're so desperate that you're willing to be randomly placed in another room.
Whatever the case may be, I just want to remind you that there are so many other people who are likely going through the same thing as you. You are certainly not alone, and there are even resources on campus that you can use to help mediate the situation. For me, a great starting point was talking to my RA. She was such a caring person and made it so easy to voice my concerns. No matter the severity of the tension or bitterness between you and your roommate, there are solutions to the problems. You just have to be willing to reach out, ask for help, and find a solution. Best wishes to everyone in this position, and to those of you who don't even know it yet. It's just temporary, so hang in there and stick it out as best you can!
