As I sat down to brainstorm my next article, I realized that I had no ideas for this upcoming week. There seemed to be no topics I wanted to discuss (and when writer's block hits me, it hits hard). Stumped, I decided to turn to my roommate and suitemate for inspiration. When I asked them what I should write about this week, they exclaimed, "Write about us!"
When discussing these two in particular, I could really go on forever. They are not only great suitemates, but truly wonderful individuals that have taught me a plethora of life lessons in just the two months that we've known each other. They've done so much for me, both at my highs and my lows. So, they are superb examples when it comes to describing exactly what a great roommate is.
First and foremost, you should enjoy being with them. I would know, I spend almost all day with my suitemates (when I'm not in class). They tell you to branch out in college, which I agree is good, but I also believe that being able to spend all day with the same people and never get fed up, angered, or bored is equally spectacular.
Roommates should be caring. This is an extremely important one for me, as I moved to a college quite a distance from my hometown and the rest of my family, while a lot of the students at my college are locals. As a result, I can get extremely homesick at times. It's crucial that you have someone who will be there for you, whether you're laughing hysterically, or crying your eyes out. I'm not afraid to break down and bawl in front of my suitemates when I need to, knowing that they'll be there to comfort me and help me to feel better. They give me advice on everything from relationships to classes, and everything in between. Bottling up all that emotion would not be good for a college student (or anyone, for that matter).
As they are there for me, I am there for them. It's humbling and almost relieving to know that I am not the only one going through identity crises and homesickness, as I can see it in them, too (my one suitemate misses her dog in particular). It's another layer of comfort to know that I am not alone, even though I am several hours from home in an entirely new environment. It also makes me feel appreciated when they perform even the smallest gestures, like asking for my help on their homework or inviting me to spend time with them. It makes me feel truly needed and wanted, and in a time when I am still trying to discover who I am as a person, that means the world to me.
While I share this deep personal connection with my suitemates, they are also very lighthearted. They are constantly keeping me on my toes, with goofy jokes and just plain silliness. I come back from class to a different outlandish story from a suitemate's day all the time, or witness another almost-tragic accident (like my roommates Croc being kicked off her foot and flying for the window). It's hard to predict what will come next, and the joy it brings me is one of the things that motivates me to get out of bed every morning.
Having a roommate/suitemate that can do all this for you feels pretty much ideal. Although many of the points discussed were personal stories, I believe that everyone should have their own version of the amazing people I have found during just my first semester at college. And the things you want out of a roommate may change from person to person, but no matter what your idea of a perfect roommate is, it's important to find one.
