My friends and my all other partner’s stories force me to write something about roommates. Yes, I heard all the roommate stories before I started my college. And when I heard all the stories and I fund that the majority of them were about how terrible roommates were and how it was not possible to live with them. I had a major case of roommate fear before I started college and I was convinced that I would get a psychopath for a roommate and everything would go downhill from there. To my surprise, my roommate and I became best friends and we decided to live together again this year.



This must be so shocking and surprising because I know it is definitely rare that my roommate and I ended up best friends, but the truth is, everyone can learn to get along with their roommates. It doesn't require that the two of you become best friends or even friends at all. You just need to practice common courtesy. Here are a few helpful tips and guidelines:

1. First of all you and your roommate should sit down and write a living contract together. Include all rules for the room that the both of you agree to act upon. For example, silence hours, telephone calls, borrowing each other's things, having friends sleep over and so many things like that. Writing the contract together ensures that both of you understand what is agreed upon..

2. After the contract both try their best to follow it. When you break one of the rules, make an apology and acknowledge that you broke a rule. Don't pretend it didn't happen or hope that your roommate didn't notice. Also, when your roommate breaks one of the rules, be forgiving, especially if you've broken a few rules yourself. Don't hold bitterness and keep tabs of when your roommate broke the rules and bring it up every time the two of you have a fight. This is extremely annoying and your roommate will end up doing the same.

3. Be understanding. If you drop something, clean it up. Wash the dishes after you use them, especially if the dishes aren't yours. Don't take things without permission. If you see your roommate studying, even if it isn't quiet hours, turn down the volume. This may cause a better environment in your room.

4. Communication is the key this is most practical and suitable tip. You must communicate with your roommate. If something is bothering you, don't expect your roommate to figure it out. That’s really easy to stop speaking to each other when something goes wrong, but by doing this your problems remains the same it won't get resolved that way.

I know all about the bad roommates which cause so many problems in living together. For those people, I recommend that you talk to your Resident Advisor as soon as possible and tell him/her your situation.

Most of the students become afraid of roommates but let me tell them that roommates are really nothing to be afraid of. They are people just like you. Only the bad luck are that you and your roommate are extremely different, you can still end up being friends. They are going to be a big part of your school experience, so be mature to live people like that. Always think positively that help you a lot in passing time with your bad roommates.