There are so many stories on social media about the amazing things that happen when your college roommate becomes your best friend. However, I'm here to add another perspective: sometimes, your roommate just isn't your best friend.

In fact, sometimes people end up with roommates who aren't even their friend. I was unfortunate enough to have such an experience this past semester.

A long, boring story about transfers and roommate contracts led to me having an opening in my room for the spring semester. That spot was filled by someone I'd met with and decided was a bad match for the room. However, if you're familiar with the housing system, you'll know that dorm room occupants have very little say in what happens to the other half of the room. So, for the better part of five and a half months, I was stuck with a roommate who put me through more mental and emotional damage than I've ever had to deal with in my life.

For privacy's sake, I won't go into details about my experiences this year. I'm not writing this article to rant, but to let incoming freshman (or even sophomores like me) know that these things happen, and that there are ways to avoid them or to fix the situation.

The first thing I learned is that you should always trust your gut. If you get the feeling that something is wrong, it probably is. This isn't to say that you should be weary of every person you room with; it just means that if you get bad vibes from a person, there is often an explanation not far behind.

I was reluctant to believe my gut at first. I thought that my subconscious was just trying to think of ways to dislike this new addition to our suite. Not believing my gut was my first mistake. By the time I learned that something was wrong, it was too late for housing to realistically do anything.

Also, don't be afraid to use your resources. Talk to your RA's, your counselors, or anyone who might be able to help you. Even if they can't solve the problems, they will do what they can to help. I exhausted the proper channels without making much progress at all, but I did learn that the Counseling Center is a great place to talk to people who will actually believe your story.

Next, you should never think that moving is the "easy way out" or "giving up." These thoughts are what kept me from moving in with one the 10+ friends who offered their rooms to me. However, as the semester drew on, I was greatly regretting not at least asking to transfer to a different suite. I realized that doing so would not be giving up; it would be seeking relief.

Finally, just talk to people. If you have problems with your roommate, you'll find at least a hundred other people with similar issues. Being able to work things out or even just commiserate with another person who will believe you is incredibly therapeutic. You are not trapped as long as you have friends to talk with and help you.

So, if you ever find yourself or your friends in a bad roommate situation, keep these things in mind, and hopefully you'll have more luck than I did.