It was halfway through the first semester of my sophomore year of college when I was living with my best friend, and she asked me if she should leave next semester to study in Disney World.

I had no idea what to say at first. I wanted to be proud and excited and tell her she has to do it, but at the same time I couldn’t help but wonder what I’m going to do without her for an entire semester. I would probably be given a crazy roommate and be without my best friend for the rest of the year. I was totally confused.

But, as a true best friend, I told her she had to go. Why would I tell her not to live in Disney for a semester? It is a great opportunity for her and no matter the circumstances, I would never tell her I didn’t want her to go. I wanted her to go and do what she had been wanting to do forever. Soon after, she decided to go, filled out all the paperwork, and then went on with the semester, while I worried about my future rooming situation.

With my roommate leaving, I was told that I would either get a roommate assigned to me or I would need to get one on my own. I started panicking about the crazy roommate I would get – obviously, my next roommate had to be crazy since I hadn’t had a crazy roommate yet – and so many emotions ran through my mind. I was angry my roommate was leaving me to live with some crazy person, happy she was following her dreams, but mostly sad that I wasn’t going to see my best friend for an entire semester.

I ended up choosing to live with a girl down the hall that was also looking for a roommate after we were set up by a mutual friend. She was a nice, quiet girl that I had never spoken to before other than maybe an awkward encounter brushing our teeth at the same time or passing in the hallway. We met once, decided to room together, and then the next semester I moved into her room. I didn’t really think we would become friends since we both already had our own social circles, so I didn’t expect much from the short time we lived together. I had no idea she would end up being a really great friend.

We have only lived together for a few months, and we won’t be living together next year, but I ended up finding a friend in an unexpected place. It turned out we liked the same TV shows, read similar books, both laughed at the same episodes of "SNL" over and over, and were able to bond over our equally busy schedules. A new roommate is also someone who doesn't know any of your stories, so you have a whole semester to tell all your favorite ones without driving them insane after hearing them for the millionth time.

So when your roommate studies abroad or even studies in Disney World, know that you will make more friends, and your next roommate probably won’t be crazy! She may even end up being one of your closest friends whom you will miss when your roommate returns to school next semester. So don’t go into your one semester with a different person, with a negative attitude. Welcome the new changes in your life as well as your new friend. Don't waste the short time you have together.