There is nothing worse than living with somebody you are not fond of. Going into college there is a potential risk that you will be sharing a room with somebody completely random. This then leads to the larger risk of living with someone who you do not connect with. In order to make the best out of your dorming experience, it is imperative to build a strong relationship with your roommate. From personal experience I can attest that not having a good relationship with your roommate diminishes the thrill of the being at college. I have witnessed friends who did not value having a positive relationship with their roommate and it took a toll on their college experience. While it may seem frightening living with somebody you don’t know, go into it with a positive attitude. There are four rewarding advantages of building a connection with your college roommate:
1. Learn Proper Communication Skills
It is vital to know how to communicate and effectively get our thoughts across. By having a civilized and honest relationship with your roommate you become more comfortable communicating your thoughts and opinions. This will be a long term benefit since communication is the key to successfully prospering in both the academic and work world.
2. Healthy Boundaries
It is crucial to set up boundaries when living with somebody. For instance, designating which belongings can be used jointly and which can not. Having a respectable relationship with your roommate will make setting boundaries effortless. We tend to be more comfortable with expressing our personal boundaries with ones that we have a secured relationship with.
3. Create Friendship
Having a good relationship leads to building a friendship that could last a lifetime. After all, you are sharing a living space with this person for a whole year and getting to know their personality and lifestyle. You may feel lost when you first go away to school however having a roommate by your side will help both of you get out of your comfort zones. It also helps construct an outgoing network of great friends.
4. Better Experience
Having an optimistic relationship between you and your roommate will make the overall college experience memorable. By being friendly with your roommate, you will create memories that will be cherished the rest of your life. On the other hand, poor relationships only lead to negative outcomes. For instance, lack of respect, communication, and consideration. My roommate and I have an enthusiastic as well as healthy relationship. As a result of having such a great relationship, we are entirely comfortable with expressing our thoughts and concerns. I can confidently say that we have developed an outstanding relationship because we are very close friends.
I highly recommend that you take the time and put in the effort to build a strong relationship with your roommate. It is a significant advantage and in the end you will be grateful. Besides, building a strong connection could potentially lead to a lifelong friendship.
